ORANGE : Candidate Says Foe Filed False Address

A candidate seeking one of four seats on the Orange Unified School District board filed a complaint this week with the Orange County district attorney’s office accusing an opponent of submitting a false address to qualify for the election.

Mara Brandman, a community activist and candidate for the Area 5 board seat, claimed that Max Reissmueller lives in a Tustin apartment complex, outside Area 5 boundaries.

Reissmueller, an electronics technician supervisor, said he lives in a rented house in Santa Ana, although he admits he moved there last week from a residence in east Orange. But since the Santa Ana home is up for sale, Reissmueller added, he is now looking for a permanent residence within Area 5, which covers the eastern portion of the school district.

“This is typical,” said Reissmueller. “That’s her personality.”

The district attorney’s office acknowledged they are investigating the complaint but wouldn’t comment further. The complaint was filed Thursday, a day after the deadline for submitting election papers for a school board seat. The election is Nov. 2.

Meanwhile, board President Lila Beavans and board member Dr. Barry Resnick announced they will not seek reelection. Each has served one four-year term. They cited weariness and frustration over the bickering that has marked the seven-member body in recent years as the reasons they are leaving office.

“I believe a candidate should have a freshness of approach, new ideas and the energy to bring about change,” Beavans said. “And I’m tired.”

Echoing similar sentiments after a three-hour meeting Thursday night, Resnick said: “I can tell you how I honestly feel. Would you want to serve with these people for four more years?”

The candidates for the school board election are:

* Area 1--northern portion of the district: Incumbent John Hurley, 65, a college instructor from Anaheim, and Martin Jacobson, 40, an accountant from Anaheim.

* Area 4--central portion: James H. Fearns, 63, a youth probation officer from Orange; Frank C. Noble, 50, a business insurance broker from Orange, and William Parker, 65, a Riverside County school superintendent from Orange.

* Area 5--eastern portion: Brandman, 48, from Orange; Reissmueller, 25, from Santa Ana, and Teresa Sargeant, a planner from Orange.

* Area 7--southeastern portion: Incumbent Alan E. Irish, 50, an accountant from Orange; Rick Ledesma, 31, a corporate cost analyst from Orange, and Marvella McAllister, 44, a businesswoman from Santa Ana.