Court rules resident cannot run for two offices

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- A Superior Court judge ruled last week that a city

resident could not run for two local school district boards for which he

filed candidacy.

Ted Tadayon, a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District,

wanted to join the races for the Coast Community College and the

Huntington Beach Union High School district boards of trustees.

“I wanted to contribute something to the community, in matters

relating to education,” Tadayon said.

However, potential opposing candidate Daniel Kittredge saw some

problems.

“When I learned that Tadayon was running for the two boards, I was

concerned that someone serving two boards couldn’t give his full

attention to both,” said Kittredge, a candidate for the Coast Community

College board of trustees.

Kittredge had other concerns too, such as the possible conflict of

interest posed by serving on two boards.

“It’s also unfair to voters to cast a vote that would later be

disqualified,” Kittredge said.

More importantly, running for more than one board violates election

codes, said attorney Mark Rosen, who brought the case before Judge Stuart

Waldrip on behalf of Kittredge.

“It was not my intention to take advantage of the election process,”

Tadayon said. “I only intended to serve people.”

On Aug. 9, when Tadayon filed to run for the Coast Community College

board, he asked the clerks at the Orange County registrar of voters’

office if it was possible to run for two offices, Tadayon said.

“I was misadvised that this was possible and legal,” Tadayon said.

However, the office does not have the authority to provide legal

advice.

“It’s not up to us to determine whether he can or can’t run or to deny

anyone the papers,” said Rosalyn Lever, who works in the registrar’s

office.

According to the court ruling, Tadayon’s second filing for the

Huntington Beach Union High School District nullified his first filing

for Coast Community College.

“I’m not really disappointed,” Tadayon said. “The law is clear, and I

will definitely abide by this. Now that I think about it, it would have

been a bit too much work. Someone should devote a good deal of time to

each.”

The only regret Tadayon has is not having the choice to pick which

district for which he could run.

“I’m quite happy running for the Huntington Beach school district,” he

said. “My only idea was to serve the people. I just want to be active in

my area with education.”