Lynwood : Runoff Election Scheduled to Break School Board Tie

Lynwood Unified School District trustees have decided to hold a runoff election to break a tie between incumbents Joe T. Battle and Rachel Chavez for a seat on the board.

Battle and Chavez each received 1,281 votes in the Nov. 2 election, but trailed newcomer Laura M. Byrd in the race for two board seats. Byrd, a history teacher, easily won with 2,096 votes. She will be sworn in Dec. 14.

The runoff could be scheduled early next year, possibly as late as April, said Warren S. Kinsler, attorney for the school district. The election will cost the district about $42,000, he said.

In the interim, the school board will have only four members, since the terms of Battle and Chavez expired Tuesday.

The board rejected a proposal to draw lots to decide who would serve after some members objected. “I think children are too important to make a decision on a coin toss,” Chavez said.