School Board Races Shift Into High Gear as 7 Pull Papers

The race for local school board seats kicked off on Monday as seven local residents pulled papers to run in three seats as the district returns to plurality elections.

So far no incumbents have pulled papers. Two members of the board, Scott Phelps and Elizabeth Pomeroy, have announced they would not see re-election. 

In the District 1 seat currently held by Kim Kenne, Rita Miller and Bill Malone have pulled seats.

Malone currently sits on the Altadena Town Council. Miller is a public school teacher who challenged Kenne in 2017.

In that race she received 37% of the vote.

In District 3 which is currently represented by Michelle Richardson Bailey, Bree Jensesn has pulled papers.

Jensen is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Lets-talk-teens.org.

In District 5, Patrice Marshall McKenzie and Xilian Stammer have received the necessary paperwork. McKenzie has more than 15 years of experience working with state and local government leaders including members of the California State Legislature and the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. Her roles have centered around serving as a direct liaison and local spokesperson between key stakeholders and elected officials.

Stammer is listed as a special education teacher. 

The seat is being vacated by current Board President Elizabeth Pomeroy. Pomeroy announced this week she is not seeking re-election.

“I could not be more enthusiastic about the importance of this vital work,” Pomeroy said in her announcement. “As our high school seniors do as a graduation requirement, I anticipate writing a reflection on these years when it’s time to pass my torch on to a dedicated newly-elected Board member for PUSD District 5.”

In District 7, local attorney Juan Pablo Albán is squaring off against Yarma Velázquez. 

Albán is a local attorney whose son attends Blair.

Velázquez is a professor at Cal State Northridge. Her son and daughter attend San Rafael Elementary. 

The nominating period will close on Friday, August 12, 2022, at 5 p.m.

A nomination petition must be issued and filed before the deadline. The petition must be signed by 25 qualified voters in the district where the candidate is running. Candidates must also pay a $25 fee when the nomination papers are filed. 

If no incumbents runs, the period to nominate any qualified person other than the incumbent is extended to Wednesday, August 17.

The elections will be decided by a plurality vote. The candidates with the most votes will win the seat. There are no run off contests. More than 50% of the vote is not required to win the election.