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School board District 7, runs up a narrow swath from San Pedro at its southern tip to South LA as its northern boundary (see map here).
On the way, it encompasses parts of Wilmington, Harbor City, Carson, Harbor Gateway, Lomita, Gardena, Florence, and Watts, and is home to some of LA Unified’s historically troubled high schools including Fremont High, and Jordon High, which have undergone recent massive restructurings, and Locke High School, which underwent a major turnaround 2008. The district also includes some of the highest performing schools in LAUSD, including highly-ranked Harbor Teachers Prep Academy and many of the city’s highly-effective charter schools. In all there are 99 elementary schools, 36 middle schools and 54 high schools in LAUSD’s District 7. (See list here). Three candidates are vying for this seat.
CANDIDATE SNAPSHOTS
Richard Vladovic (Incumbent)
A veteran educator, Richard Vladovic is a former social studies teacher, principal and Superintendent of West Covina Unified School District with two terms under his belt on the LAUSD school board. He was first elected to the school board in 2007 with the help of then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. While he maintains strong ties with reform-minded players he won the support of board members allied with the teachers union to ascend to the position of school board president replacing reform advocate Monica Garcia 18 months ago.
Organization endorsements: SEIU-99, CA Charter School Advocates, AALA, LA Times
Cash Raised: $96,764 [reporting as of 2/14]
SuperPAC $: $82,977 [reporting as of 2/14]
Age: 70
Education: B.A. Los Angeles Harbor College; M.S., Pepperdine University; PhD, USC Rossier School of Ed, 1980 (source, smartvoter)
Ballot Designation: School Boardmember/Educator
League of Women Voters Questionnaire: What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? The most important issue facing LAUSD today is increasing academic achievement. Full answers here
Website: http://www.vladovic4schoolboard.com/
A teacher in the Long Beach Unified School District since 1995, Lydia Gutierrez is perhaps better known for her recent run at replacing Tom Torlakson as state Superintendent of Public Instruction last year. She didn’t make it to the runoff, but did come away with 25 percent of the vote after spending little money. Her secret could have been her appeal with conservative Christians and Republicans. On one conservative website she was listed as opposing public funding of abortion and supporting teaching intelligent design as an alternative to the theory of evolution. Her vehement opposition to Common Core has also won her support among Tea Party conservatives.
Organization endorsements: Election Forum (Conservative Christian)
Cash Raised: $18,325 [reporting as of 2/14]
SuperPAC $: None
Age: 57
Education: B.A. University of California, Berkeley, 1971; M.A. in education, UC Berkeley, 1977 (source: AP)
Ballot Designation: Public School Teacher
League of Women Voters Questionnaire: What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? The single most important issue facing LAUSD is Academic failure. Full answers here
Website: http://www.lydia4education.com
A former teacher and current pre-school principal, Euna Anderson has spent most of her 20 year career as an educator focused on early childhood, including as a principal at two LAUSD early childhood centers. Anderson says if elected she would be an advocate on the school board for issues related to early education. “Early education does not have a voice on that board,” she said.
Organization endorsements: none
Cash Raised: $67,227 [reporting as of 2/14]
SuperPAC $: None
Age: declined to state
Education: B.A. Southern California College; M.A. Pepperdine University (Source: smartvoter)
Ballot Designation: Principal/Adjunct Professor
League of Women Voters Questionnaire: What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? LAUSD needs to recruit a serious reformer to lead our district in the coming years as Superintendent. Full answers here
Website: http://www.andersonforkids2015.com