Frintner, Tabet take lead in race for two seats on Burbank school board

Steve Frintner, the first man to helm the Burbank Council PTA, appears to have won one of two seats on the Burbank Unified School Board during a primary election on Tuesday, with all 29 precincts reporting.

Some mail-in ballots will continue to come into the Clerk’s Office through Friday, according to Clerk Zizette Mullins.

Frintner received roughly 59.2% of votes, with 5,185 residents supporting him.

When reached by phone, Frintner, who was the only candidate backed by the Burbank Teachers Assn., said he was “dumbfounded” by his clear and early lead as he watched the preliminary results at home Tuesday night.

“I’m excited at the prospect of being able to join the board and help our school district and our students,” he said, adding that his message to voters resonated as a parent who has been involved in the PTA for years and wanted to offer his service to the board.

“They wanted to see a voice that sounded like theirs,” he said.

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He also spoke of his admiration for fellow candidates Charlene Tabet and Larry Applebaum and that the race was not hinged on negativity.

“All three of us really respect each other. We’ve worked together on different things over the years with projects I’ve volunteered with,” he said. “I fully expect that to continue in the future.”

Tabet, who was first elected to the board four years ago, won about 57.2%, or 5,009 votes, according to the City Clerk’s office.

“If they stand, I appreciate the support from the community, and I’ll continue to do what I do,” Tabet said of the preliminary results.

Meanwhile, roughly 55.9% — or 4,898 residents — voted for Larry Applebaum, a 12-year member of the school board.

For Applebaum, who is likely nearing the end of his 12-year run on the board, he said he will continue to be involved in the community.

Over the last four years, he was perhaps the board’s greatest champion of voters passing the $110M Measure S bond in 2013 that brought Burbank Unified into the 21st century. The school board recently issued the last of that bond, and Applebaum wanted to remain on the board to see the board’s promises for the last of the bond spending become a reality.

“I’ve lived in this town 57 years and will probably die in this town and will still stay involved. I’ve been here long enough to know how the system works and where the pressure points are and how you go about making sure ... the things that I’m interested in promoting still at least have a voice.”

Because Frintner and Tabet received 50% of the vote plus one and were the top two vote-getters, they automatically win the two open seats on the school board.

All three candidates participated in low-fundraising campaigns for the two open seats on the board.

Frintner had raised the most of the three, about $3,100, which included about $2,500 he lent himself, which he used to purchase lawn signs with a focus to make his name known to residents in his race against two incumbents.

Meanwhile, Tabet did not raise or spend any money on her campaign ahead of Tuesday’s primary, while Applebaum said he would not accept or spend more than $2,000 on his campaign.

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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @kellymcorrigan