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School board District 3 covers most of the western San Fernando valley from the Ventura county line to the 405 on its eastern boarder, with a cutout to include some of the tonier neighborhoods in the east valley. The district includes Chatsworth, parts of Woodland Hills, Northridge, Granda Hills, parts of Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks.
In all, there are 120 elementary schools, 42 middle schools and 41 high schools in LAUSD’s District 3. (See list here). Six candidates are vying for this seat.
CANDIDATE SNAPSHOTS
Tamar Galatzan (Incumbent)
Tamar Galatzan was first elected to the board in 2007 and has also worked as a prosecutor for the city of Los Angeles since 2002. She is a parent of two LAUSD students. While she has a reputation as a pro-charter, pro-reform movement board member and strong supporter of former Superintendent John Deasy, she also has a fiery independent streak, which was noted in her endorsement by the Los Angeles Times.
Organization Endorsements: California Charter School Association, the local chapter of the AFL-CIO, LA Times, SEIU Local 99.
Cash Raised: $35,714 (through 2/14)
SuperPAC $: $206,836.54 (through 2/14)
Age: 45
Education: J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law (1994); B.A. in political science, UCLA, magna cum laude (1991)
Ballot Designation: School board member/Prosecutor
League of Women Voters Questionnaire: What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? The budget is unquestionably the most critical issue. Full answers here
United Way Questionnaire: Full answers here.
Website: Tamar2015.com
Elizabeth Badger is a parent of two LAUSD students, and this is her third run at public office in two years. She owns an automotive business in the San Fernando Valley and is CEO/Founder of Minority Outreach Committee, Inc. a nonpartisan non-profit. She is also a member of the Winnetka Neighborhood Council, the Los Angeles African American Women Political Outreach and was a delegate at the 2008 and the 2012 Democratic National Conventions.
Organization Endorsements: None
Cash Raised: $14,804 (through 2/14)
SuperPAC $: None
Age: not stated
Education: BA and MA in Political Science from CSUN; Graduate of USC’s Public Policy Institute
Ballot Designation: Children’s Advocate/Businesswoman
League of Women Voters Questionnaire: What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? Failing Education System. Full answers here.
United Way Questionnaire: Full answers here.
Website:elizabethbadger.net
Filiberto Gonzalez is a parent of two LAUSD students and founder of SoCal Impact Consulting, a Woodland Hills-based consulting firm that specializes in non-profit fundraising and community outreach. He has also served on the North Valley Area Planning Commission. He also Filiberto founded Califorians for Safe Schools, an online community organized against child abuse. He has argued strongly for big teacher raises.
Organization Endorsements: National Association of Social Workers – California Chapter, CSUN Young Democrats, Bring Hollywood Home Foundation, National Organization for Women SFV/NELA chapter, United For Education
Cash Raised: $8,9307 (through 2/14)
SuperPAC $: None
Age: 40
Education: Masters in Social Work, University of Southern California; Bachelor of Arts, CSUN
Ballot Designation: Businessman/Professor
League of Women Voters Questionnaire: What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? LAUSD has been overcome by corrosive politics. Full answers here.United Way Questionnaire: Full answers here.
Website: http://www.gofiliberto.com
Ankur Patel is a graduate of LAUSD’s North Hollywood High School, attended UCLA and CSUN and serves as treasurer for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. He has also taught English in China and South Korea, authored scientific papers and has worked as a union organizer. He ran for city controller in 2013 where he placed fifth out of six candidates with 5.7 percent of the vote.
Organization Endorsements: None
Cash Raised: $23,373 (through 2/14)
SuperPAC $: None
Age: 29
Education: B.S. UCLA (Ecology, Behavior & Evolution), M.S. CSUN (Interdisciplinary)
Ballot Designation: Teacher/Scientist/Entrepreneur
League of Women Voters Questionnaire: What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? The fact that not enough resources are getting to where they need to be — the classroom. Full answers here.
United Way Questionnaire: Full answers here.
Website: http://patelforlausd.com
Carl Petersen
Carl Petersen is a LAUSD parent who has four children enrolled in the district. He has spent most of his career working in the private actor at J. B. Chemical Company and Unified Dispatch before becoming the director of logistics for Arecont Vision, a company that makes security cameras. He has lived in Los Angeles since 1988 and says he would serve on the board as a parent advocate.
Organization Endorsements: North Valley Democratic Club
Cash Raised: $1,285 (through 2/14)
SuperPAC $: None
Age: 46
Education: B.S. Business Management, University of Phoenix; Vocational Degree, Musician’s Institute (PIT)
Ballot Designation: Businessman/Activist Parent
League of Women Voters Questionnaire: What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? Almost every major problem facing the LAUSD can be traced back to the size of the massive bureaucracy. Full answers here.
United Way Questionnaire: Full answers here.
Website: http://www.changethelausd.com
Scott Schmerelson
Schmerelson has a served a longtime LAUSD educator, counselor and administrator, including as an assistant principal at Griffith Middle School in east LA, principal at Johnnie Cochran Middle School in central LA, and principal of Lawrence Middle School in Chatsworth. He also served as executive director of Association of California School Administrators Region 16.
Organization Endorsements: CSEA, AALA
Cash Raised: $27,780 (through 2/14)
SuperPAC $: None
Age: 63
Education: B.S. Foreign Languages, Temple University; M.S. Foreign Languages, Temple; M.Ed., Cal State LA
Ballot Designation: Administrator/Retired Teacher
League of Women Voters Questionnaire: What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? Class size is too large. Full answers here.
United Way Questionnaire: Full answers here.
Website: http://www.scott4lausd.com
* Updated to include info on all candidates that are LAUSD parents