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Schmerelson taps former Martinez aide, Irlando, as chief of staff

Vanessa Romo | June 18, 2015



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Scott Schmerelson

Scott Schmerelson

While sitting LA Unified board members are combing through the latest budget proposal and wrapping up other end of the year activities, the newly-elected representatives are busy staffing up and hiring some familiar names.

Scott Schmerelson, who replaces Tamar Galatzan as the District 3 representative on July 1, has named Arlene Irlando as his Chief of Staff. Irlando is a Special Assistant in the district’s Facilities Department and was previously Chief of Staff for former board member Nury Martinez, who is now a member of the LA City Council.

Schmerelson told LA School Report that among the dozens of applicants he met, Irlando had a resume and demeanor that appealed to him best because “she is very much like I am.”

“I’m soft spoken and I try to be reserved,” he said. “I try not to jump the gun, not be yelling, and that is how she is, too. She is very measured and careful with what she says.”

Ref Rodriguez, who defeated Bennett Kayser to represent the ear-shaped District 5, has hired Aixle Aman to lead his team, according to a district official who asked not to be identified. It is a step up for Aman, who currently serves as Galatzan’s Deputy Chief of Staff. Her first name is pronounced ACE-el.

Aman is a former elementary and middle school teacher with a public policy degree from Berkeley.

Rodriguez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

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