Four fight for three school board seats

One incumbent and three challengers will vie for three seats on the Laguna Beach Unified School District board in the Nov. 4 election.

Ketta Brown, first elected in 2006, is the only one of three incumbents running. Theresa O’Hare and Betsy Jenkins, who have served two and three four-year terms, respectively, will not seek reelection to the five-member board.

Brown, 54, who retired from a position in public finance when she moved to Laguna in 1990, cited her passion for public education as the primary reason to run again.

She also said the school system is entering a pivotal time with the rollout of new Common Core state testing standards, which place a greater emphasis on writing and critical thinking.

“If we don’t implement this correctly we are [in trouble],” Brown said. “However we choose to implement it, it has to be done with a lot of care.”

Jenkins, 66, first elected 12 years ago, said she wants to do other things, such as travel.

“Three terms is long enough,” Jenkins said. “I’m ready to move on with my life.”

O’Hare, 59, was also content with her tenure.

“I am satisfied with serving two [terms],” O’Hare wrote in an email. “Much has been accomplished over the course of these past eight years, and I am privileged to have been a part of it.... I look forward to supporting continued achievement in the years ahead.”

Dee Perry, one of three challengers, ran in 2012.

“[Running for public office] is much more difficult than I thought,” said Perry, 62, who taught for 35 years in the district before retiring in 2010. “I want to have more of a sense of humor this time” and take help when offered.

Annette Gibson, concerned about Common Core and district spending, is entering the school board race for the first time.

“I’m worried that all the spending [on Common Core] is not being controlled,” said Gibson, 47, a registered nurse and parent of three children who do not attend Laguna Beach Unified schools.

She said she favors greater transparency regarding district spending.

“I want the taxpayer, teachers and parents to decide how the money is being spent,” Gibson wrote in a follow-up email.

Carol Normandin, a parent of three children in Laguna Beach Unified, cited the need to maximize student resources and opportunities and provide additional academic support to attract and retain top teachers, according to her candidate statement.

Normandin, 49, ran a recruitment business for 10 years and has helped raise funds to benefit district schools.

The deadline for candidates to file was extended from Aug. 8 to 5 p.m. Aug. 13, Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley said.

“The thinking behind the extension is that some people might be scared off if an incumbent runs,” Kelley said. “This gives [potential challengers] another chance.”

Each of the candidates’ statements is available at https://www.ocvote.com.