Few challengers in school, college board races
Four of the seven school trustees up for election this year are guaranteed new four-year terms because they drew few or no challengers during the recently closed filing period.
Together, the trustees guide education programs for about 100,000 students in the 155-square-mile North Orange County Community College District and the 45-square-mile Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
Nobody chose to challenge Yorba Linda resident Mike Matsuda or Anaheim residents Manuel Ontiveros and Leonard Lahtinen for three of the four community college board seats scheduled for the Nov. 4 ballot, so they’ll be appointed to new terms in December.
But 13-year incumbent Molly McClanahan of Fullerton drew two opponents, real estate agent Ross Romero and journalist/student Dana Crystal. The trustees for Fullerton and Cypress colleges must reside in specific district areas, but they are elected by all voters.
None of the three paid $6,027 for a candidate statement to be mailed with sample ballots packs to the district’s 415,510 voters by the county Registrar of Voters starting Sept. 25.
Two challengers are running against three incumbents for three board seats in the Placentia-Yorba Linda school district, so one incumbent is assured another term.
Businessman Jim Brunette and IT professional Shawn Burch face incumbents Carol Downey, July Miller and Eric Padget in the 27,000-student district with 88,875 voters.
Former Placentia Mayor Downey was appointed to both of her four-year terms, since nobody ran against her in 2000 and 2004. Miller was first elected in 1988 and re-elected in 1992 and 1996, but appointed in 2000 and 2004, when she also didn’t draw opposition.
Padget was appointed in June to fill five months remaining on 16-year incumbent Craig Olson’s final term. Padget lost his race against Karin Freeman and Jan Wagner in 2006 and was one of 15 applicants and five finalists interviewed for the departing Olson’s seat.
Burch also applied for the vacant position but was not a finalist. Brunette, making his first run for office in the community, already posted a Web site, www.jimbrunette.com, and paid $2,277 for a candidate statement, as did Downey, Miller and Padget.
A FINAL NOTE
One Yorba Linda Water District incumbent also is assured re-election, since Mike Beverage, seeking a fifth term, and Ric Collete, seeking a second, have only one opponent for two seats, Dave Rosenberger. All three paid $1,795 for a candidate statement to be sent to 46,089 voters.
Roger Yoh of Buena Park will continue to represent Yorba Linda on the 10-member Orange County Water District board, since he drew no opposition for a second term.
Together, the trustees guide education programs for about 100,000 students in the 155-square-mile North Orange County Community College District and the 45-square-mile Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
Nobody chose to challenge Yorba Linda resident Mike Matsuda or Anaheim residents Manuel Ontiveros and Leonard Lahtinen for three of the four community college board seats scheduled for the Nov. 4 ballot, so they’ll be appointed to new terms in December.
But 13-year incumbent Molly McClanahan of Fullerton drew two opponents, real estate agent Ross Romero and journalist/student Dana Crystal. The trustees for Fullerton and Cypress colleges must reside in specific district areas, but they are elected by all voters.
None of the three paid $6,027 for a candidate statement to be mailed with sample ballots packs to the district’s 415,510 voters by the county Registrar of Voters starting Sept. 25.
Two challengers are running against three incumbents for three board seats in the Placentia-Yorba Linda school district, so one incumbent is assured another term.
Businessman Jim Brunette and IT professional Shawn Burch face incumbents Carol Downey, July Miller and Eric Padget in the 27,000-student district with 88,875 voters.
Former Placentia Mayor Downey was appointed to both of her four-year terms, since nobody ran against her in 2000 and 2004. Miller was first elected in 1988 and re-elected in 1992 and 1996, but appointed in 2000 and 2004, when she also didn’t draw opposition.
Padget was appointed in June to fill five months remaining on 16-year incumbent Craig Olson’s final term. Padget lost his race against Karin Freeman and Jan Wagner in 2006 and was one of 15 applicants and five finalists interviewed for the departing Olson’s seat.
Burch also applied for the vacant position but was not a finalist. Brunette, making his first run for office in the community, already posted a Web site, www.jimbrunette.com, and paid $2,277 for a candidate statement, as did Downey, Miller and Padget.
A FINAL NOTE
One Yorba Linda Water District incumbent also is assured re-election, since Mike Beverage, seeking a fifth term, and Ric Collete, seeking a second, have only one opponent for two seats, Dave Rosenberger. All three paid $1,795 for a candidate statement to be sent to 46,089 voters.
Roger Yoh of Buena Park will continue to represent Yorba Linda on the 10-member Orange County Water District board, since he drew no opposition for a second term.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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