Larner Seeking 2nd School Board Term

After remaining mum on the subject for months, conservative Wendy Larner announced Tuesday that she plans to run for a second term on the Ventura County Board of Education.

Along with President Marty Bates and board member Angela Miller, Larner represents the board’s conservative majority, which voted last year to ban AIDS Care and Planned Parenthood presentations from teacher-training workshops.

So far two candidates--substitute teacher Tom Stafford and former Oxnard Union High School District trustee Janet Lindgren--have decided to challenge Larner for the 3rd District seat. Both Stafford, a Green Party member, and Lindgren have said they disagree with some of the views of the board’s conservative majority.

Although she could not be reached for comment, Larner said in a prepared statement that if elected to a new four-year term, she wants to make sure schools emphasize teaching the basics, including solid reading skills.

Larner also said she wanted to ensure that safeguards are in place to maximize local control over schools.

“We must not voluntarily give our schools over to Sacramento or Washington via Sacramento by trading independence for dollars with strings and conditions,” Larner said.

Larner’s district includes Ojai, Camarillo, Santa Paula and Fillmore. Larner was the target of an unsuccessful recall campaign last year after voting with the board majority for the AIDS Care and Planned Parenthood ban.