Board of Education: 3 Seats Open

Two of three open Orange County Board of Education seats are being contested on the March 7 ballot, with candidates competing for the chance to form policies on issues ranging from improving education for children in correctional facilities, running alternative schools and programs, and managing state and federal dollars.

The county Board of Education provides support services to the county’s 29 public school districts but has no authority over them. Rather, it is a liaison between those districts and the state and federal governments. But it also runs a variety of alternative schools and programs, serving students who are in the corrections system and those who are home-schooled.

One of the board’s more outspoken members, Ken L. Williams Jr., has no challenger in Trustee Area 4, covering Fullerton, La Habra, Brea-Olinda, Orange, Tustin, Irvine, Saddleback Valley and Capistrano districts.

In Trustee Area 3, which covers Buena Park, Anaheim, Placentia, Yorba Linda and Orange, incumbent Eric H. Woolery is being challenged by Joanne L. Stanton, formerly a longtime member of the Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees.

Stanton is past president of the Orange County School Boards Assn., spent 19 years on the Anaheim board and has been involved with numerous educational organizations. Stanton said one of her goals would be to intensify career programs available to students in county programs, an area in which she and her opponent have disagreed.

In 1997, Woolery--along with Williams--derided President Clinton’s school-to-work initiative as “big government.” Stanton said that inspired her to run for a board seat.

“It just angered me so because it was like saying, ‘If it’s federal funds, we don’t want it here in Orange County.’ I’m a fiscal conservative, but I’m also an advocate for children,” Stanton said. “The county program really is one that has to meet the needs of some very fragile children.”

Woolery, who was elected to the board on a back-to-basics platform in 1996, calls himself a pragmatist, not an ideologue.

“I’ve never thought of myself as conservative,” he said. “I think of myself as a common-sense, middle-of-the-road type--if it works, do it; if it doesn’t, then don’t. It’s not a matter of conservative or liberal; it’s what works.”

Both agree that the primary challenge facing the board is to strengthen programs for the students it serves.

“Our objective is to focus on Juvenile Hall students in the justice system and try to get them educated and back into their local districts so they can become successful students,” Woolery said. “If we can save one of these kids from getting into a life of crime, then we’ve saved human potential and we’ve helped a life and society all in one stroke.”

In Trustee Area 1, covering Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley and Westminster, incumbent Felix Rocha Jr. is being challenged by Jose Luis Moreno. Moreno could not be reached for comment after repeated efforts last week.

Rocha, who has not filed a ballot statement, said he is maintaining a low profile in his race for a third term on the board.

“I feel I got in because I don’t spend any money on my elections--this year I spent $1,200,” he said. “I’m a born-again Christian, and I feel if [Jesus] doesn’t want me here, I won’t get elected. I think I’ve done a good eight years, and I hope to do another four.”

Rocha has been an outspoken critic of homosexuality and a lightning rod for activists on all sides of gay and lesbian rights issues. Now, while he will continue to “vote his conscience” on those issues, Rocha said he will no longer “fight the fight with a sword in my hand. I’ll let the Lord take care of it.”

He said his goals for a new board term are accountability and standards. In particular, he wants to keep a closer watch on money funneled through the county to the districts, to be sure it is spent appropriately.

“I’d like for the county to have an inspector general’s office,” Rocha said. “We have the federal government looking over the shoulder of the state and the state looking over our shoulder. Even though it’s not one of our direct responsibilities, we need to ensure no possible malfeasance.”

Rocha said he supports school-to-career programs.