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Hattie McFrazier
Another candidate has thrown her hat into the ring.
Hattie McFrazier is the latest contender in the special election race for LA Unified’s District 1 seat.
She is another district lifer. McFrazier spent 31 years with the district, retiring in 2012, and held a variety of positions including teacher, counselor, School Attendance Review Board Chair and Health and Human Services Director.
She also held leadership roles in the National Education Association and California Teachers Association, and she continues to sit on UTLA’s board of directors.
In an interview with LA School Report, she said, “The only way to make sure our schools are functioning the way they’re supposed to be, is to bring teachers and health and human services and administrators back to the schools.”
And thanks to the extra revenue coming in through Prop. 30, a ballot initiative that raises about $6 billion annually, the district can afford to do that immediately, she said, adding, “Not only that, but I think we should give everybody a raise. They deserve it. We have the money, there is no reason why they should not receive it.”
UTLA conducts several reviews before endorsing any candidate, and given her lifelong affiliation with the union, she would to have a good shot at gaining union support. McFrazier received once received UTLA’s “Unsung Hero Award.”
Still, the competition will be stiff. Among the other candidates for the June 3 special election, teachers Sherlett Hendy Newbill and Rachel Johnson have told LA School Report that they hope to get support from the union. And former school board president Genethia Hudley Hayes said she planned to meet with UTLA leadership soon.
Retired school administrator George McKenna has U.S. Representative Maxine Waters’ political force behind him while Alex Johnson has the support of his boss, LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
The ultimate winner of the race — in June or an August runoff, if necessary — replaces the late Marguerite LaMotte, who died last month.
Previous posts: The LA Unified board sets June 3 election to fill vacant LaMotte seat; Alex Johnson becomes the fifth candidate to end June 3 election; Two teachers join the field for the vacant LA Unified board seat.