Los Angeles City Council To Vote on School Board District 2 Race Friday

I live in District 2 of the LAUSD Board of Education. The seat was vacated by Jose Huizar to become City Councilperson in Council District 14 (which was vacated by Antonio Villaraigosa to become Mayor). Still with me? On March 7 there was a special election with 10% turn out where Mónica García (47%) and Christopher Arellano (19%) were the two top votegetters.

However, after getting the endorsement of the teacher's union and spending $200, 000 of their money promoting his candidacy, Arellano announced Tuesday that he was dropping out of the race (hours before the union was going to meet to very likely withdraw their endorsement of Arellano for suppressing details about his educational background).

However, word came on Thursday that the City Clerk would not allow Arellano's name to be removed from the June 6, 2006 ballot. It is now in the hands of the Los Angeles City Council, who will vote on a motion to consider the results of the special election in its Friday March 17th meeting (Item 34 on the agenda):

Recommendation for Council Action: ADOPT a RESOLUTION declaring the results of the Special Election held March 7, 2006, to fill the vacancy in the Second District of the Board of Education of the LAUSD for the portion of the unexpired term remaining though June 30, 2009. Fiscal Impact Statement: The City Clerk reports that declaring the results of the Special Election held March 7, 2006, to fill the vacancy in the Second District of the Board of Education of the LAUSD for the portion of the unexpired term remaining though June 30, 2009 will have no impact on the City's General Fund.

Considering that a majority of the Board endorsed Jose Huizar's bid for City Council and Mónica García is the Mayor and Huizar's choice for School Board, I think it is likely the Council will vote to declare Mónica García the winner of the District 2 seat. Mayor Sam says that the City Clerk tells him that he is suggesting that the Council keep Arellano and García on the ballot even though only one of them is running for the seat in a run-off election!