Schools
John Fernandez is a Spoiler in Local School Board Race
The third place finisher in the Los Angeles Unified School District 5 vote sure shaped the outcome.
Tuesday’s vote for the open District 5 seat on Los Angeles Unified School Board depended on the presence of Dr. John Fernandez. And, after getting 16 percent of the vote, Fernandez knows that his losing battle for the open seat “had an impact.”
Neither of the other candidates achieved a majority, forcing a runoff. Fernandez also told Echo Park Patch that he feels “vindicated” that, once the UTLA withdrew their support, the teachers union's new candidate, Bennett Kayser, still did not achieve an outright victory over Luis Sanchez.
Fernandez said he has not decided who he will support in the runoff election.
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He believes that the voters were responsive to his ideas. Even though he only spent $7500 on the race–a fraction of what was spent by the other candidates--Fernandez still made a strong showing.
Fernandez is “grateful for the support” of those who voted for him and awaits the results of the runoff. He still stands by his platform positions on school safety, charter school accountability, independent budget audits and early intervention for floundering students.
