Suit Attacks Candidate’s Ballot Blurb

An Anaheim resident has filed a lawsuit asking the court to excise some sections of one candidate’s statement in the March race for a seat on the Orange County Board of Education.

The suit filed in Orange County Superior Court by private citizen T.J. Johnson objects to a ballot statement filed by candidate Joanne L. Stanton, who sat on the school board for Anaheim high schools for 19 years. The suit names Registrar of Voters Rosalyn Lever as defendant.

At issue are statements Stanton made alleging that school board incumbent Eric H. Woolery, a certified public accountant, is more focused on fiscal matters than the best interests of children and public education. A hearing on the matter is set for Wednesday.

“Ms. Stanton’s candidate statement violated state law by attacking the incumbent and making false statements,” said Costa Mesa attorney Stephen R. Sheldon, who represents plaintiff Johnson. The incumbent’s focus “has been on charter schools, accountability and improving test scores.”

Stanton, who has long been involved in school-to-career programs, called the suit “petty” but said she would probably rewrite her statement rather than waste money on legal fees.

She said only recently she decided to run, concerned that no one would challenge Woolery, who has vociferously attacked the school-to-career programs.

Federally funded school-to-career programs, popular with many school and business leaders, help scores of Orange County children link up with the working world. Critics view them as wasteful federal mandates that dilute academics.

Woolery and Stanton are competing for the seat on the Orange County Board of Education that represents Orange, Anaheim, La Palma, Buena Park and Placentia.