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Low voter turnout predicted in LAUSD board race
Even as the runoff election appears to be tightening to fill the vacant LA Unified school board seat in south LA, the question is not only who will win, but just how low can voter turnout go? Set for August 12, the stand-alone election not only falls in the dog days of summer, but also...
By Jamie Alter Lynton | August 4, 2014
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Ridley-Thomas voter group going all out for Johnson
Alex Johnson has no greater supporter in his bid for LA Unified’s District 1 board seat than Mark Ridley-Thomas, the LA County Supervisor he has served as an education aide. But it’s more than Ridley-Thomas’s vocal support that’s helping Johnson in his quest to beat George McKenna in the Aug. 12 runoff after McKenna outpolled him in...
By Michael Janofsky | August 4, 2014
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Galatzan endorses Johnson, leaving Vladovic as lone neutral
For those keeping score, it’s now 3-2. A second member of the LA Unified school board, Tamar Galatzan, is endorsing Alex Johnson for the open District 1 seat. She joins Monica Garcia as the board backers for Johnson. Three others — Monica Ratliff, Steve Zimmer and Bennett Kayser — have endorsed George McKenna. That leaves...
By LA School Report | July 31, 2014
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Attack mailers for Johnson draw ire of two important backers
Recent campaign material supporting Alex Johnson that questions the record of his opponent in the LA Unified District 1 school board race, George McKenna, are rattling two of Johnson’s high profile supporters, U.S. Congresswoman Janice Hahn and former Congresswoman Diane Watson. “I do not support the negativity that has come out,” Watson told LA School Report. “I never have...
By Yana Gracile | July 30, 2014
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Zimmer, Kayser back McKenna; Villaraigosa in for Johnson
Endorsements in the District 1 school board race continued to pile up today as two LA Unified board members jumped on the George McKenna bandwagon, and former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa weighed in for Alex Johnson. Steve Zimmer and Bennett Kayser appeared at a news conference outside City Hall this morning to offer their strong support for...
By Vanessa Romo | July 29, 2014
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Johnson holding money lead over McKenna; Vladovic has donors
Notes along the campaign trail: In the money race for the open District 1 board seat, Alex Johnson continues to hold an overall lead over George McKenna, according to the City’s Ethics Commission Through last week, Johnson had raised $47,646 to $6,450 for McKenna, an 8-to-1 ratio that hasn’t budged in weeks. In PAC money spent on...
By Michael Janofsky | July 28, 2014
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LA Times endorses George McKenna for school board
Via LA Times Editorial Board Two candidates with different styles and viewpoints are vying to join the Los Angeles Unified school board, replacing longtime board member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, who died in December. Both of the candidates also hold different beliefs than did LaMotte, who was a fiery opponent of most school reform. This is an opportunity...
By LA School Report | July 22, 2014
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Johnson campaign goes negative, citing the ‘myth’ of McKenna
Alex Johnson has gone negative. In two recent mailings (here and here) to “most likely” voters in LA Unified’s District 1, the Johnson campaign is questioning George McKenna‘s accomplishments as the two candidates seek the open school board seat. “We always knew that at some point, our campaign has to address to the myth of George McKenna,”...
By Michael Janofsky | July 21, 2014
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PAC spending for Johnson gives him $200,000 advantage
As the week comes to a close, Alex Johnson has expanded his overall lead in financial support over George McKenna in their quest to win election as the new District 1 board member in LA Unified, according to the latest figures from the City Ethics Commission. At mid-day, he held the same ratio of support,...
By LA School Report | July 18, 2014
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McKenna is the union candidate, but CTA gave to Johnson backers
California’s biggest teacher union contributed $20,000 to an organization that is a major supporter of the LA Unified school board District 1 candidate that UTLA is trying to defeat. According to the California Secretary of State, which tracks political contributions, the California Teachers Association (CTA) gave the money to the African American Voter Registration and Education Project...
By Vanessa Romo | July 16, 2014