Council, school board candidates submit papers

The lineup of candidates for the March 6 election for Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles Unified School District board took final shape Wednesday as the nominating deadline passed. On the City Council side, the seven even-numbered seats are up for election next year in addition to a special election to fill the 7th District seat vacated mid-term by Alex Padilla, who was elected to the state Senate in November.

The deadlines for filing to run and turning in petitions in the 7th District -- because it will be a special election -- do not fall until later this month.

Three of the remaining council races are all but decided because no one filed last month to run against Wendy Greuel in the 2nd District, Tom LaBonge in the 4th and Greig Smith in the 12th. All three qualified for the ballot.

The remaining roster of candidates doesn’t appear to include anyone with enough name recognition, money and political support to topple an incumbent.

In fact, in recent years, only two incumbents among elected officials in the city have lost, Councilman Nick Pacheco in 2003 and Mayor James K. Hahn in 2005. The victor on both occasions was Antonio Villaraigosa, a former Assembly speaker, councilman and now mayor.

In the 14th District, incumbent Jose Huizar must defend his seat against former staff member Alvin Parra, who last month informed Huizar that he was quitting and running against him. This is Parra’s fourth attempt in 11 years to win the seat.

In the 6th District, which covers portions of the eastern San Fernando Valley, three members of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council -- Lisa Martellaro-Palmer, James Cordaro and Candido Marez -- are running against incumbent Tony Cardenas.

Their plan: pool resources and hope that one of them snares enough votes to force a runoff against Cardenas.

Cardenas won by 38 percentage points in 2003 and already has raised nearly $167,000 to run, according to his Sept. 30 campaign finance filings.

The school board races will almost certainly be more competitive since it appears likely that Villaraigosa will push a different set of candidates than those backed by the powerful United Teachers Los Angeles union.

Villaraigosa is seeking candidates who support his legislation to gain more control over schools, even though teacher unions helped him win that authority. The union in October voted to withdraw support for mayoral control and will probably push a set of candidates who reflect a broader set of priorities, including a pay raise for teachers.

Four of the board’s seven seats are up for reelection, with three incumbents running -- Marguerite Poindexter Lamotte in the 1st District, Jon Lauritzen in the 3rd and David Tokofsky in the 5th. In the 7th, incumbent Mike Lansing opted not to run again.

All three incumbents could face a tough road if Villaraigosa and the union don’t both support them.

“Mayor Villaraigosa is looking forward to meeting with the candidates and discussing their vision for reform,” said Janelle Erickson, a Villaraigosa press secretary.

Marla Eby, a spokeswoman for the union, said that UTLA leaders would probably make a decision on whom they would back for the open seat later this month and then choose their endorsements for the other three races in January.

The city clerk’s office still must verify some of the petitions turned in Wednesday and could potentially strike some candidates from the ballot.

steve.hymon@latimes.com

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City Council candidates file

As of Wednesday’s 5 p.m. deadline, the following candidates had filed to run for L.A. City Council seats:

*--* Current job Filing status District 2 Wendy Greuel councilwoman qualified

District 4 Tom LaBonge councilman qualified

District 6 Tony Cardenas councilman qualified Lisa Martellaro- transportation qualified Palmer engineer James “Jamie” electrician petitions Cordaro submitted Candido J. Marez businessman qualified Eric Dwight Rothenay peace officer qualified

District 8 Bernard C. Parks councilman qualified Mervin Leon King/Drew hospital petitions Evans advocate submitted Kevin D. Melton businessman petitions submitted

District 10 Herb J. Wesson councilman qualified Mike Manley psychologist petitions submitted District 12 Greig Smith councilman qualified

District 14 Jose Huizar councilman qualified Juan “Johnny Jay” retired incomplete JimenezETDadministrator submission Alvin Parra businessman petitions submitted

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Source: Los Angeles City Clerk

Note: Occupations are submitted by the candidates.

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School board candidates file

As of Wednesday’s 5 p.m. deadline, the following candidates had filed to run for school board seats:

*--* Current job Filing status District 1 Marguerite Poindexter school board member qualified Lamotte Gloria newspaper qualified Zuurveen publisher Johnathan Williams educator petitions submitted

District 3 Jon Lauritzen school board petitions member submitted Louis Pugliese teacher qualified Tamar Galatzan prosecutor qualified Debra L. Clark autism advocate petitions submitted

District 5 David Tokofsky school board petitions member submitted Yolie Flores Aguilar children’s advocate qualified

District 7 Joey Mandigo White loan consultant incomplete submission Neal B. Kleiner educator qualified Jesus M. Escandon schools advocate incomplete submission Richard A. retired school qualified Vladovic superintendent Woodrow “Woody” community petitions Fleming advocate submitted

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Source: Los Angeles City Clerk

Note: Occupations are submitted by the candidates.