Two Placentia-Yorba Linda school district retirements open trustee race on Nov. 3 ballot; college district races draw contenders

 

Carol Downey and Judi Carmona, who have served the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District in various roles for a combined 88 years, including a total 30 years as elected trustees, aren't seeking re-election to the five-member board on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Downey began her district career in 1965 as a teacher at the since-closed McFadden School. During her 35-year teaching career, she was elected to the Placentia City Council, serving 13 years, including two terms as mayor.

She was elected to the school board in 2000 and will have completed five terms when she leaves office in December. During her 55-year tenure, the district built 24 new schools and now enrolls nearly 25,000 students on 34 campuses.

Carmona began as a parent volunteer in 1987 at the recently opened Travis Ranch School and was a substitute teacher for eight years before earning a credential to teach special ed- ucation classes.

She was an Intervention Instructional Specialist in the district's Professional Development Academy for eight years prior to her retirement and election as trustee in 2010. She is co-author of six books for teachers and parents on working with special needs students.

Carmona lives in Trustee Area 3 in the eastern portion of the district, and four candidates are contenders to replace her: retired police officer Leandra Blades, Marine Corps reservist Misty Janssen, former Travis Ranch principal Susan Metcalf and software engineer Mike Nicosia.

Downey resides in Area 1, the northwestern portion of the district, as does incumbent Eric Padget, who is seeking a fourth term. Also running are former ABC school district principal Paoling Guo and Downey firefighter-paramedic Shawn Youngblood.

Three candidates are seeking the vacant Area 2 position in the district's southwestern section: community volunteer Marilyn Anderson, who founded the Blessing Boxes food pantry; minister and community advocate Joshua Correa; and LaShe Rodriguez, chief of staff for county Supervisor Doug Chaffee.

The first by-area election was scheduled for 2018, but nobody ran against incumbents Karin Freeman in Area 4 and Carrie Buck in Area 5, both in the middle of the 45-square mile district.

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In the North Orange County Community College District, first-term incumbent and Yorba Linda library commissioner Ryan Bent will be challenged by Brea-Olinda school district trustee Keri Kropke in Area 7, covering mostly Yorba Linda, Brea, La Habra Heights and part of Placentia.

Anaheim incumbent Jackie Rodarte has Dave Garcia-Gomez as an opponent in Area 5, which also includes parts of Yorba Linda and Placentia. Seeking the vacant Area 4 seat, covering mostly Fullerton and La Habra, are Miguel Alvarez and Evangelina Rea Rosales.

Anaheim resident Ed Lopez didn't draw an opponent in Area 2 that also includes parts of Fullerton and Buena Park, so the first-term incumbent will be appointed to a second term.