MOORPARK : Forum Examines 5 Board Candidates

Five Moorpark residents seeking an appointment to the Moorpark school board got a taste of the scrutiny of public office Tuesday in a public forum aimed at helping the board select a candidate.

After explaining their motivations in applying for the seat vacated by former board President Sam Nainoa, who resigned earlier this month, the candidates fielded questions from parents and residents.

Applicants for Nainoa’s seat are David Pollock, chairman of a committee looking into reorganizing the district’s elementary schools; Ted Green, chairman of the education committee of the Ventura County National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People; Bob Coughlon, an attorney in the city; and William Moshier and Gary Cabriales, both members of the committee chaired by Pollock.

Cabriales, the 1974 valedictorian at Moorpark High School and now a commercial airline pilot, said he would try to improve the district’s community image. “My outlook on life has been very simple,” he told the audience of about 30. “Be positive and try to be that one person who can make a difference.”

Green has lobbied the district recently to remove the novel “The Cay” from its reading list because he feels the book is racist.

The school board plans to meet Thursday night with all applicants in hopes of finalizing its selection to finish out the term that expires in November, 1994.

Some residents have said that the board should allow the public to choose Nainoa’s replacement through a vote and have threatened to force a referendum if the board moves ahead with the appointment.

County elections officials said that a petition with at least 175 signatures of registered voters must be submitted to the county superintendent of schools within 30 days of the appointment to force an election.

Pollock said he believes an election would be a needless expense.

“An appointment is perfectly appropriate in this case,” he said. “We’re doing it in a very public arena and I feel that appointments are part of the democratic process. It’s certainly not a position anyone will hold for very long before having to go through an election.”