SANTA ANA : Trustees Alter Timing of District’s Elections

The governing board of the Santa Ana Unified School District has narrowly approved a cost-saving measure to consolidate its elections with those that fall in even-numbered years.

Critics immediately blasted the move as unethical because it has a consequence of extending current members’ terms by one year.

The Board of Education voted 3 to 2 to approve the measure, with trustees Sal Mendoza, Robert W. Balen and Audrey Yamagata-Noji in favor and trustees Rosemarie Avila and Tom Chaffee opposed.

Chaffee bitterly denounced the decision, saying, “I think it’s very sad that you guys just extended your terms for another year.”

But Supt. Al Mijares emphasized that the staff suggested the move as a way to save money in the face of massive cuts resulting from the county’s bankruptcy and did not intend for it to be a political issue.

Yamagata-Noji said she would have preferred to shorten the terms instead of lengthening them but that state law prohibits it.

The move, which is expected to save about $15,000 per election, consolidates the district’s elections with most other school districts, which take place in November of even-numbered years. Until now, the district had its elections in November of odd-numbered years.

The current terms of Yamagata-Noji, Mendoza and Avila would have expired this November but instead will expire in November, 1996. Chaffee and Balen’s terms will expire in 1998, instead of 1997, Adams said.

Before the vote, community activist Mark Perew urged the board to reject the plan and warned of a political backlash if voters did not decide the issue.

He said: “You were elected to serve a certain term, and for you to change that is a violation of trust. I am offended that the opinion of the voters would be disregarded.”