ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES : Elementary School Districts

School board members will be chosen in 10 elementary districts. Many districts face the challenge of educating an increasingly diverse student population. Others are looking for ways to pay for expanding the use of computers in schools. More than 60 candidates are seeking seats.

ANAHEIM CITY

Boundaries: Serves Anaheim

Enrollment: 17,000; grades K-6

Facilities: 21 elementary schools

Issues: More than 49 languages spoken in the district, and officials are working to reorganize the English language development program. District is also grappling with how to accommodate more students in an era of tight budgets.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Tonya Castleman

Age: 38

Occupation: Homemaker

Qualifications: Volunteer with local PTA; serves as teacher’s aide.

* Celia Dougherty*

Age: 58

Occupation: Elementary school principal

Qualifications: School board member since 1986.

* Norma W. Friese

Age: 39

Occupation: Businesswoman

Qualifications: Volunteer with local PTA; serves as teacher’s aide.

* Benny Hernandez

Age: 37

Occupations: Family counselor

Qualifications: Instructor in parenting classes; member of school-safety committee.

* Herb Griffith

Age: 51

Occupation: Retired veterinarian

Qualifications: Could not be reached for comment.

* Todd E. Kaudy

Age: 24

Occupation: Educator

Qualifications: Works as a junior high school teacher in Downey.

* John Luckett

Age: 28

Occupation: Paralegal

Qualifications: Candidate provided no education-related experience.

* Basilio Moran

Age: 63

Occupation: School district administrator

Qualifications: Retired naval officer; active in the Navy Reserve.

* Betty Patterson*

Age: 57

Occupation: Substitute teacher

Qualifications: School board member since 1977.

* Gregory Robert Ramsay

Age: 36

Occupation: Health-care administrator

Qualifications: Endorsed by district’s teachers union.

* Patrice P. Roggenkamp

Age: 39

Occupation: Tax accountant and attorney

Qualifications: Local PTA volunteer.

* Frank Rosales

Age: 44

Occupation: Business consultant

Qualifications: Anaheim Community Services Board member.

* Michael Valenti

Age: 61

Occupation: Marketing consultant

Qualifications: Local PTA volunteer.

BUENA PARK

Boundaries: Serves northern Buena Park

Enrollment: 4,900; grades K-8

Facilities: Six elementary schools, one junior high school

Issues: District is trying to balance a growing student population with static state funding. It must deal with an influx of non-English speaking students who need special language programs. Several construction projects have begun.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Robert W. Flewelling*

Age: 72

Occupation: Retired teacher and school administrator

Qualifications: Board member since 1992; worked in education for 35 years, including as Buena Park district deputy superintendent.

* Mary Fuhrman

Age: 61

Occupation: Retired elementary school teacher

Qualifications: Worked as teacher in the district for 23 years; has bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University.

* B. Buck Levine*

Age: 72

Occupation: Life insurance broker

Qualifications: School board member since 1972; worked as a teacher, high school counselor and school administrator; studied educational issues at USC.

* Elizabeth Swift*

Age: 45

Occupation: Home economics teacher at Buena Park High School

Qualifications: School board member since 1979; has degree from Cal State Long Beach in home economics.

CYPRESS

Boundaries: Serves Cypress,

La Palma and parts of Buena Park

Enrollment: 4,400; grades K-6

Facilities: 10 elementary schools

Issues: School financing is a major problem. District had to make major budget cuts this year and has tapped its reserves for the past three years.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Steve Blount

Age: 45

Occupation: Financial operations controller

Qualifications: Served on two district advisory committees: One looked into reopening some schools, the other examined uses for surplus property; former PTA officer.

* Ventura Cornejo Jr.*

Age: 61

Occupation: Teacher in Anaheim Union High School District since 1961

Qualifications: Served on Cypress school board since 1970; winner of 1992 LULAC Outstanding Educator Award.

* Ellen R. Friedmann*

Age: 52

Occupation: Executive assistant of a trade association

Qualifications: Served on the school board from 1979 to 1981 and since 1985; founding president of Cypress High School Academic Boosters.

* Edward K. Southfield*

Age: 44

Occupation: Health insurance consultant

Qualifications: Served on school board since 1980; served as director and president of Cypress County Water District.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

Boundaries: Serves portions of Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach

Enrollment: 5,786; grades K-8

Facilities: Eight elementary schools and three middle schools

Issues: School officials might sell some surplus sites. Officials want to maintain safe campuses and encourage parental involvement. Board must also select a permanent superintendent.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Kerryn Coffman

Age: 41

Qualifications: Longtime president of the Lupus Foundation of Southern California Board of Directors; served on Board of Governors for the Arthritis Foundation.

* Larry R. Crandall*

Age: 45

Occupation: Businessman

Qualifications: Serves on board; chairman of the Pacifica District Boy Scouts; member of Chamber of Commerce and Fountain Valley Traffic Committee.

* Marilyn Eldridge

Age: 37

Occupation: Physical therapist

Qualifications: Former president of the Hisamatsu Tamura Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization; longtime member of the Superintendent Parent Council.

* Lyle J. Menzel

Age: 31

Occupation: Engineer

Qualifications: Served on Huntington Beach Union High School District’s Strategic Planning Committee; works as tutor for McDonnell Douglas’ Homework Hot Line.

* Benny Moore

Age: 35

Occupation: Operations manager for computer manufacturer

Qualifications: Experience as a business manager; daughter attends a district school.

* Robert J. Sedlak*

Age: 36

Occupation: Certified public accountant

Qualifications: Serves as president of the board; volunteers as a soccer coach; member of the local Parent Teacher Organization and a classroom volunteer.

* Barbara A. Vogel*

Age: 40

Occupation: Homemaker

Qualifications: Serves on the board; member of the Action Committee for Education, a district legislative committee, and the California School Board Assn.

FULLERTON

Boundaries: Serves Fullerton and a small portion of Buena Park

Enrollment: 11,148; grades K-8

Facilities: 14 elementary schools, three junior high schools and one Head Start preschool

Issues: Board will soon review its student transfer policy. It might also create rules to govern districtwide fund-raising activities.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Robert Fisler*

Age: 84

Occupation: Science education consultant

Qualifications: Serves as school board president; chairman of Child Guidance of Orange County; co-founder of the Youth Science Center in Fullerton.

* Marjorie B. Pogue*

Age: 67

Occupation: Retired Fern Drive Elementary School teacher

Qualifications: Volunteers as art teacher in district schools; president of Fullerton Sister City Committee; member of the American Assn. of University Women.

* Elena Reyes-Jones*

Age: 40

Occupation: Attorney

Qualifications: Children attend district schools; member of the Fullerton College Advancement Fund Board; North Orange County YMCA board member.

* Anthony M. Valla

Age: 59

Occupation: High school teacher

Qualifications: Volunteers as soccer and softball coach; assistant director of the Girl Scouts Olympics; Fullerton Community Services commissioner.

* Lorraine Flores Williams

Age: 49

Occupation: Dropout prevention specialist for Fullerton Joint Union High School District

Qualifications: Recruits adults to enroll in high school equivalency programs; volunteers at a women’s shelter in Placentia.

HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY

Boundaries: Serves southern and downtown Huntington Beach

Enrollment: 5,970; grades K-8

Facilities: Six elementary schools and two middle schools

Issues: Officials trying to expand high-technology curriculum and modernize aging facilities. Candidates want to reduce class sizes, contract out for some services and strengthen basic reading, writing and math curriculum.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Shirley Carey*

Age: 55

Occupation: Nursing consultant and writer

Qualifications: Member of National School Board Federal Relationship Network, a committee working with legislators on education issues.

* James Bieber

Age: 28

Occupation: Businessman

Qualifications: Current legislative aide in state government dealing with crime and education legislation.

* Brian F. Garland*

Age: 54

Occupation: Edison High School principal

Qualifications: Chosen as 1994 California High School Principal of the Year; has worked in public education for 32 years.

* Robert J. Mann*

Age: 48

Occupation: Teacher

Qualifications: Has worked as a teacher for 20 years; completed California Assn. of School Business Officials’ managers academy.

* William L. Young

Age: 64

Occupation: Marriage, family and child counselor

Qualifications: Serves as a children’s advocate; works with Orange County Child Abuse Council; founder of organization that provides protective services for children in need.

LOWELLJOINT

Boundaries: Serves La Habra and Whittier

Enrollment: 2,900; grades K-8

Facilities: Four elementary schools, one middle school

Issues: Candidates are concerned about growing class sizes. District may require uniforms for students.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Janet B. Averill*

Age: 58

Occupation: Homemaker

Qualifications: Holds California teaching credential; served on board for 22 years.

* Jerry L. Powell*

Age: 47

Occupation: Los Angeles police officer

Qualifications: Board member since 1988; soccer and Little League baseball coach.

* Gayle K. Rogers*

Age: 44

Occupation: High school teacher

Qualifications: Longtime educator; appointed to board in December, 1993.

* Bob Sargent

Age: 42

Occupation: Owns calibration firm

Qualifications: Volunteers as school coach; children attend district schools.

MAGNOLIA

Boundaries: Serves Anaheim and parts of Stanton

Enrollment: 5,259; grades K-6

Facilities: Eight elementary schools

Issues: District might add portable classrooms to some campuses. It is also considering the future of Juliette Low School because the Rams, who now use it as a training facility, may leave Orange County.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Theresa K. Dieriex

Age: 51

Occupation: Family resource consultant

Qualifications: Heads a committee examining ways of improving school grounds.

* Ruth W. Good

Age: 64

Occupation: Music teacher

Qualifications: Served on board from 1987 to 1992.

* Ray Morales*

Age: 57

Occupation: Publications analyst

Qualifications: Served on board since 1981.

* Manuel T. Ontiveros

Age: 20

Occupation: Aide to county Supervisor William G. Steiner

Qualifications: Serves on Anaheim Parks Commission.

* Richard K. Shimeall*

Age: 68

Occupation: Retired engineer

Qualifications: Board member since 1964.

* Steve Staveley

Age: 50

Occupation: La Habra police chief

Qualifications: Served on board from 1979 to 1987.

* Esther H. Wallace

Age: 66

Occupation: Retired teacher

Qualifications: Worked as a high school teacher in Whittier.

OCEAN VIEW

Boundaries: Serves northern part of Huntington Beach

Enrollment: 9,000; grades K-8

Facilities: Eleven elementary schools and four middle schools

Issues: District went to court earlier this year to keep a 6-year-old boy with a communication disorder out of a kindergarten class after he allegedly bit a teacher and threw objects. Board must also decide what to do with schools closed because of declining enrollment.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Bryan Bridges

Age: 42

Occupation: Science consultant/businessman

Qualifications: Could not be reached for comment.

* Gordon Busch

Age: 42

Occupation: Business owner

Qualifications: Longtime association with Ocean View Parents’ Council and Ocean View Education Foundation.

* Carol Kanode*

Age: 57

Occupation: School nurse

Qualifications: Served on board since 1990.

* Eugene Mulcahy

Withdrew from race

* Tracy Pellman*

Age: 39

Occupation: Registered nurse

Qualifications: Served on board since 1990.

* Jim Peters

Age: 38

Occupation: Business consultant

Qualifications: Activist who favors placing special-education students, including his own son, in mainstream classrooms.

* Daniel T. Villella

Age: 45

Occupation: Certified public accountant

Qualifications: Finance director for the city of Huntington Beach.

* Pam Walker

Age: 37

Occupation: Homemaker

Qualifications: President of the Circle View Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization.

SAVANNA

Boundaries: Serves portions of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress and Stanton

Enrollment: 2,100; grades K-6

Facilities: Four elementary schools

Issues: District might cut budget if state funding declines. Candidates want to increase use of high-technology equipment in classrooms and encourage parental involvement.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Dana Adams

Age: 30

Occupation: Aerospace company quality control inspector

Qualifications: Political activist for last five years.

* Edward A. Erdtsieck*

Age: 58

Occupation: Air National Guard personnel manager

Qualifications: Board member for eight years.

* Patrick V. Ochoa*

Age: 64

Occupation: Real estate investor

Qualifications: Board member since 1968; experienced in business management.

* Linda R. Weinstock*

Age: 37

Occupation: Homemaker

Qualifications: Served on board since 1990; children attend district schools.

WESTMINSTER

Boundaries: Serves Westminster and parts of Huntington Beach, Garden Grove and Midway City

Enrollment: 8,600; grades K-8

Facilities: 13 elementary schools, three middle schools, one child development center

Issues: Board might rework its bilingual education program. District is looking at ways to increase campus security and encourage parents to get involved in school programs.

Open seats: Three

Candidates:

* Lynn Covey

Age: 44

Occupation: Educational assistant/businesswoman

Qualifications: Served on board of Westminster Little League; member of the AYSO Soccer regional board; former president of local PTA.

* Laurie De Koning

Age: 35

Occupation: Homemaker/community volunteer

Qualifications: Served as vice president of Hayden Elementary School Ways and Means Committee and as an officer on the local PTA.

* Stephanie Erickson

Age: 41

Occupation: Homemaker

Qualifications: Served on the Clegg Elementary School PTA and site council.

* Lorenzo (Larry) Luera

Age: 58

Occupation: Retired aerospace engineer

Qualifications: Member of the county Harbor, Beaches and Parks Commission since 1981.

* Sheryl Neugebauer*

Age: 42

Occupation: Flight attendant

Qualifications: Board member since 1990; served as PTA president at Eastwood School; served on District Advisory Council.

* Anthony Powelczak

Age: 33

Occupation: Tool design engineer

Qualifications: Experienced business manager; holds associate science degree in manufacturing technology.

* Sondra Rinker

Age: 30

Occupation: Homemaker/businesswoman

Qualifications: Served as PTA secretary and site council member at Ada Clegg Elementary School.

* Jeanne Salinas

Age: 48

Occupation: Community volunteer

Qualifications: Served as PTA president at Virgina K. Boos Elementary School and as Westminster Council PTA president.

* Michael J. Verrengia

Age: 44

Occupation: Reserve police officer/electrical technician

Qualifications: Longtime member of PTA boards at Iva Meairs Elementary School and Willis Warner Middle School; member of the California Reserve Peace Officers’ Assn.

* Incumbent

Sources: Individuals and school districts; Researched by MARTIN MILLER, LESLEY WRIGHT, BILL BILLITER, DEBRA CANO, MIMI KO, RUSS LOAR, LYNN FRANEY, ALAN EYERLY and JON NALICK / For The Times