Single challenger emerges in school board race

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- The competition for the school board heated up to

lukewarm this week as a single challenger emerged just two days before

the filing deadline.

Three school board seats are up grabs this November, and so far

trustees Dana Black and David Brooks remain unopposed in their reelection

bids.

Martha Fluor, who represents the Dover Shores and Santa Ana Heights

areas, may have a competitor in Newport Beach resident Ila Johnson.

Johnson, like all three incumbents, has pulled papers for the seat but

not yet filed.

True to her word before she had competition, Fluor was unruffled when

she heard of her opponent.

“Good for her. It should be a race then,” Fluor said. “We’ll be able

to talk about the issues. I welcome the competition; it’s an opportunity

for the public to hear our stance on our various issues.”

Johnson could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

In the last school board election, two of the four incumbents slid

into office unopposed. Unless challengers emerge in the next 48 hours

from the Mesa Verde area and East Side Costa Mesa, Black and Brooks will

do the same this election.

When the $163-million school bond passed in the spring, many bond

opponents promised opposition in the upcoming election. But with the

exception of Johnson, there have been no other stirrings of interest in

the open seats.