3 School Board Incumbents to Run Unchallenged in March

All three Los Angeles school district board members who are up for reelection in March will be uncontested, as potential challengers failed to file petitions of candidacy by the Wednesday deadline.

Board President Jose Huizar, who is running for reelection, said the lack of challengers is a welcome development that means “one less distraction” for board members grappling with the job’s challenges. He said it also signals public confidence.

“People feel we are on the right track,” he said.

Board members Julie Korenstein and Marlene Canter also face reelection.

On Tuesday, however, state Education Secretary Richard Riordan and mayoral candidate Bob Hertzberg called for the breakup of the Los Angeles Unified School District, citing its high dropout rate, among other problems.

In other races, no petitions were filed announcing challenges to City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo or City Councilmen Alex Padilla and Eric Garcetti.

Some observers suggested the lack of challengers was a reflection of the difficulty of unseating well-financed and broadly supported incumbents.

“Incumbency always scares people away, especially when there is no vocal opposition from the constituency, no scandal,” said Jaime Regalado, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State L.A.

In Mayor James K. Hahn’s reelection bid, 11 people either qualified for the ballot or filed nominating petitions by the deadline. Already qualified are former state Assembly Speaker Hertzberg, state Sen. Richard Alarcon (D-Sylmar) and Councilmen Bernard C. Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa.

City Controller Laura Chick is being challenged by Marvin Evans. Councilman Ed Reyes will face Ernest E. Sanchez and possibly four more challengers who filed petitions in time.

Jeff Bornstein has petitioned to run against Councilman Dennis Zine. Councilman Jack Weiss is being challenged by Gregory Martayan and David Vahedi. Councilwoman Jan Perry will face Los Angeles Police Officer Peter Torres and possibly three more challengers who filed petitions.

Three people have qualified for the seat being vacated by Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski because of term limits. They are Bill Rosendahl, a university professor and journalist; Flora Gil Krisiloff, an area planning commissioner; and Angela J. Reddock, an attorney and city commissioner.

Retired school principal John Fer has filed a petition to challenge Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

The three incumbents for the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees filed for reelection, as have a handful of challengers.