LOCAL ELECTIONS Orange : School District Races Target Tarnished Image : Squabbling on Orange Unified board overshadows class size, budget and other issues as 11 candidates vie for 4 seats.

Candidates vying for four seats on the school board, like many voters, say they hope the Nov. 2 election will clear up the district’s tarnished image and restore public confidence in one of the county’s largest districts.

In the past two years, the Orange Unified School District has witnessed teacher layoffs, a recall movement targeting five trustees, and a controversial dismissal of a school superintendent.

In the first two public debates by the 11 candidates, the board’s well-known squabbling, along with the school voucher initiative, has overshadowed such other district issues as bulging class sizes, managing a $106-million school budget and campus safety.

“All you have to do is go to a board meeting to see their behavior has been an embarrassment to most of us,” said candidate William Parker. “It’s totally unacceptable.”

Candidate Marvella McAllister, who spearheaded last year’s recall, said, “They’re dysfunctional.” The recall garnered more than 8,000 signatures, about 5,00O fewer than needed to place the issue on the ballot.

The candidates are vying in their districts for a total of four seats. Two of the seats were vacated by President Lila Beavans and Dr. Barry Resnick, and two are held by John Hurley and Alan E. Irish, both of whom are seeking reelection.

The district has about 26,000 students in schools in Orange, Villa Park, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Silverado and Santa Ana.

Most board members don’t contest the criticisms of their behavior. In fact, Resnick and Beavans, who both held office only for a single term, admit the board’s contentiousness influenced their decisions to not seek reelection.

“I am so glad to not have to deal with those people again,” Resnick said. “I have never been involved with such gross incompetence as with this school board.”

Candidates insist their chastisement of the board is more than campaign rhetoric. They blame the board’s infighting with stalling important district decisions.

For example, the board has been without a permanent school superintendent for more than a year. Also, candidates say, the body’s caviling prevented swifter action in correcting a school bus maintenance problem. The district was cited by state inspectors for more than 225 mechanical violations in its aging 74-vehicle fleet.

While they can agree that board decorum should improve, the candidates’ ranks, however, thin slightly when it comes to the controversial school voucher initiative. Proposition 174 would allow parents a taxpayer-funded voucher to help pay for private school tuition.

Seven candidates have denounced the proposal, saying it would destroy the public education system by increasing the quality gap between schools. Incumbent Hurley has been the initiative’s most dogged critic, referring to it as the “vulture system.”

But three candidates--Martin Jacobson, Frank C. Noble and Rick Ledesma--strongly back the proposal, saying the competition between public and private schools would improve education.

“Parents should be able to choose where to send their kids to school,” Jacobson said.

Although critics say politics has no place in school board elections, conservative candidates--Jacobson, Ledesma and Max Reissmueller--are touting their endorsements from Republican Assemblyman Mickey Conroy and U.S. Congressman Bob Dornan. The three accuse their opponents of having a “tax-and-spend” mentality.

But their opponents dismiss the charges as inflammatory campaign rhetoric.

“I am not a tax-happy liberal,” said Mara Brandman, a former Rancho Santiago College trustee. “I am a conservative and a responsible administrator. My record speaks for itself.”

The other two candidates are James H. Fearns, 63, a youth probation officer, and Terri Sargeant, 40, a part-time county planner.

Two more 7 p.m. candidate forums have been slated before the election. The first will be Monday at Villa Park High School, 18042 Taft Ave. The second is set Nov. 1 at Orange High School, 525 N. Shaffer St.

Orange Unified School District

Candidates running in the Nov. 2 election for four seats on the board of the Orange Unified School District.

AREA 1

(Northern portion of district)

John Hurley, incumbent

Age: 65

Occupation: college instructor

Residence: Anaheim

Martin Jacobson

Age: 40

Occupation: accountant

Residence: Anaheim

AREA 4

(Central portion)

James H. Fearns

Age: 63

Occupation: youth probation officer

Residence: Orange

Frank C. Noble

Age: 50

Occupation: insurance broker

Residence: Orange

William Parker

Age: 65

Occupation: Riverside County school superintendent

Residence: Orange

AREA 5

(Eastern portion)

Mara Brandman

Age: 48

Occupation: community activist

Residence: Orange

Max Reissmueller

Age: 25

Occupation: electronics technician supervisor

Residence: Santa Ana

Terri Sargeant

Age: 40

Occupation: part-time county planner

Residence: Orange

AREA 7

(Southeastern portion)

Alan E. Irish, incumbent

Age: 50

Occupation: accountant

Residence: Orange

Rick Ledesma

Age: 31

Occupation: corporate cost analyst

Residence: Orange

Marvella McAllister

Age: 44

Occupation: businesswoman

Residence: Santa Ana