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Richard Vladovic
The slow pace of progress toward a new contract in the teachers union negotiations with LA Unified is, so far, costing Board President Richard Vladovic any possibility of union support for his reelection.
The UTLA political action committee met last night, and a motion to recommend an endorsement to the union’s House of Representatives failed to win enough support to send it forward, according to a person close to the process.
“Members were upset about the lack of movement in the negotiations and his lack opinion on the issue,” the person said.
The union did not endorse Vladovic in his previous runs for the board, in 2007 and 2011.
So far this year, the union has endorsed only two of the four incumbents running — George McKenna, who is unopposed in District 1, and Bennett Kayser, who is facing two challengers in District 5.
The union has not endorsed anyone in District 3, where Tamar Galatzan is facing five challengers, including Scott Schmerelson, a retired teacher. As a strong supporter of charter schools, Galatzan would be the most unlikely board member to win a UTLA endorsement.
The lack of UTLA support for Vladovic, bidding for a third term, could provide a boost to one of his two challengers — Euna Anderson, a principal and former teacher. The other, Lydia Gutierrez, a teacher and former candidate for state Superintendent of Instruction, is a Republican and Tea Party favorite whose politics would not line up with the union’s.
The union is expected to take up the possibility of an endorsements for District 3 and 7 again next week.