School board fills late member’s post

The Laguna Beach School Board voted Tuesday to fill the seat left vacant by the death of K Turner.

William Landsiedel was unanimously approved by the board ? after promising not to run for the open seat in November.

Landsiedel, an assistant chief counsel with the State Compensation Insurance Fund, said he only wants to serve until the end of Turner’s term, which ends Dec. 1.

Landsiedel said his motivation to serve the board for the interim is to help the district during a difficult time.

“Protesters could overturn the decision,” he said. “I have no intention of running as an incumbent.”

Landsiedel’s intention not to run in November has apparently quelled community members who threatened to petition the board’s decision and seek to overturn it through a signature drive.

The board’s decision to appoint a new member rather than leave the seat open through November’s election drew fire from some disgruntled parents who saw the move as a way to appoint a new member likely to survive an election.

Two candidates for the seat withdrew before the vote, saying they did not want to raise rancor from opponents and that they intended to run for the open seat in November.

Parent Bill Steel led the protests, arguing a board appointment without an election would not be in the best interest of the community. Steel also led protests several months ago against the board’s refusal to allow former high school Principal Nancy Blade to rescind her resignation.

“Having a member appointed would make it easier to win an election as an incumbent,” Steel said. Allowing the board to act independently of the community would create an unfair advantage, he added.

With Landsiedel out of November’s election, Steel sees no reason to gather the roughly 400 signatures required by state law to officially overturn the appointment.

“This is a good result for voters,” Steel said. “It gives the board a fifth person, and there’s no reason to oppose it.”

Two of the applicants withdrew from the process, citing pressure from the protesters.

Jeff Elghanayan, a retired architect who plans to run for the position in November, said Steel told him as a courtesy that his appointment would likely be overturned.

Theresa O’Hare, president of the Performing Arts Boosters, also withdrew and said she intends to campaign for the position in November.

“I am reluctant to accept an appointment that can easily be reversed by a handful of board critics,” O’Hare said.

The selection process offered the remaining seven candidates three minutes each to address the board.

Landsiedel used his time to draw on his professional experience.

“It wouldn’t hurt you to have an attorney and parent on the board,” he said.

Landsiedel also emphasized his adherence to confidentiality.

“What happens in the board room, stays in the board room,” he said.

With two children at Top of the World School and a wife who is a principal in Santa Ana, Landsiedel said he has a strong commitment to the district and education. He also has teaching experience at Long Beach Community College and in training lawyers.

Over the next five months, the board will face labor negotiations and budget issues for the 2006-07 school year.