Campaign Updates

LB Police Officers & LB Firefighters Unions Endorse Re-Election Of LB School Board Incumbents Williams & Meyer

(Dec. 24, 2007) -- LB's Police Officers and Firefighter unions are banding together to endorse the two LB Unified School District Board incumbents -- Dr. Felton Williams and Jon Meyer -- in a high stakes 2008 election that could decide control of the state's third largest School District.

In a release on a letterhead of "Public Safety For Better Education," Richard Brandt, President of the LB Firefighters Ass'n and Steve James, President of the LB Police Officers Association state in pertinent part:

As lifelong educators, both candidates bring a wealth of experience and balance to the School Board. Their knowledge of the issues that face the Long Beach Unified School District give them both a strong foundation to effect positive change that will directly benefit the children of our City. Their fair and balanced approach in dealing with the issues of the Long Beach Unified School District have shown that they both possess the leadership skills necessary to create a positive learning environment for the students of our School District.

In the release, Firefighters Ass'n President Brandt states: "We are proud to lend our support to these two fine men, and look forward to partnering with them to further enhance the education of our City’s future leaders."

LBPOA President James states in the release: "This is an easy endorsement as both of these candidates genuinely care about our children, the quality of their education, and their safety."

The announcements could potentially pit LB's two public safety unions against the teachers union (Teachers Ass'n of Long Beach or "TALB")...if TALB endorses challengers to the incumbents.

The School Board is currently split 3-2...with two board members (Dr. David Barton and Michael Ellis) elected in 2006 with TALB's support...but TALB is currently operating under a trusteeship run by the CA Teachers Ass'n...and there's been no public announcement yet on whether it plans to back challengers against School Board incumbents Meyer and Williams.

Meanwhile, the LB Area Chamber of Commerce has launched a recall against TALB-backed Board member Ellis. If the recall proponents gather sufficient petition signatures to trigger a recall election, voters could either retain Ellis or replace him with a new Board member...with the ultimate outcome a wildcard since a recall replacement could be nearly anyone (TALB-backed, Chamber-backed, independent, unknowable).

Among the possible scenarios for the upcoming 2008 regularly scheduled LB School Board election are:

TALB-backed challengers [none yet announced] defeat both Williams and Meyer, giving TALB 4 of 5 votes on the School Board, meaning a TALB-backed majority would rule the Board even if Ellis is recalled and replaced by a non-TALB-backed candidate.

A single TALB-backed challenger defeats either Williams or Meyer, giving the teachers' union 3 of 5 votes on the School Board...UNLESS Ellis is recalled...with the outcome of the recall determining the ultimate configuration of the Board.

Incumbents Williams and Meyer are both reelected, preserving the current 3-2 School Board configuration even if Ellis is recalled and then replaced by a TALB-backed candidate.

In 2006, TALB ran a slate of three candidates seeking a majority on the School Board. Ellis was elected, virtually without opposition, when then-incumbent School Board President Suja Lowenthal abandoned the race to seek the 2nd district City Council seat vacated by the abrupt resignation of Dan Baker. TALB-backed Barton prevailed in ELB, with turnout amplified by a simultaneous ELB Council race (in which Gerrie Schipske beat then-incumbent Jackie Kell (running a term-limit forced write-in campaign). School Board incumbent Mary Stanton narrowly defeated a TALB-backed challenger.