The Teachers Association of Long Beach (TALB), a local extension of the California Teachers Association, lost one of two remaining seats of support yesterday when retired Cerritos College associate dean John McGinnis defeated TALB-endorsed candidate Richard Lewis and three others in a special election held yesterday.
Voters in Downtown Long Beach went to the polls to fill the open seat in District 3 for the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Board of Education left vacant after the September 1 resignation of Michael Shane Ellis. Michael Ellis resigned his position on August 6th, 2009 - according to this Press-Telegram report - after missing nearly three months of meetings and following a District Weekly report that there was a warrant out for Ellis' arrest following a probation violation.
Ellis was one of two board members that tended to support the controversial agenda of the local teachers union, the Teachers Association of Long Beach, or TALB. The other three LBUSD board members have exhibited significant independence in their direction of the school district. Yesterday’s election was viewed as primarily a defensive one for TALB to maintain at least two supportive seats on the board leading into the regular elections for both the City of Long Beach and the school district next April. Three of the five LBUSD seats, including this one, will be up for re-election in April.
School District 3 is one of the most diverse areas of Long Beach. It covers the following schools: Chavez Elementary School, Edison Elementary School, International Elementary School, Lee Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Stevenson Elementary School, Whittier Elementary School, Franklin Classical Middle School, and Renaissance High School for the Arts. The five candidates, Richard Lewis, John McGinnis, Raymond Chavarria, Kate Conrath, and Pauline Gonzalez Stenberg, also displayed that diversity.
As election day approached, many in the district believed that the race would be a contest between TALB-endorsed candidate Lewis and GOP-backed candidate Gonzalez Stenberg, and both campaigns had active poll-watching efforts yesterday. However, when the first polling data released shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m., it was clear that McGinnis had been more successful at conducting an aggressive absentee ballot chase.
Based on purely absentee ballots, McGinnis led Lewis by a 35%-25% margin, with Conrath, Stenberg & Chavarria coming in at about 17%, 12% and 8%, respectively. As the counting of the 27 precincts progressed, the margin between McGinnis and Lewis shrunk, indicating that Lewis’ poll-watching & follow-up with supporters to get them to the polls had been somewhat successful. However, with the resultant polling showing that absentee ballots made up over 75% of the total ballots cast yesterday, the margin was too much to overcome, and McGinnis held on for a 34%-29% victory over Lewis.
Local politicos in Long Beach anticipate a rematch between board member elect McGinnis and Lewis in 3 months, and candidate filing for the April election is already open. Incumbent LBUSD Board President Mary Stanton & David Barton, TALB’s other ally on the board, are both expected to run for re-election. Stenberg has already indicated that she will not make a second attempt and was among those that quickly left messages for McGinnis to congratulate him on his victory. (McGinnis could not be reached for comment, but is expected to release a statement soon.)
The Teachers Association of Long Beach has enjoyed mixed support in recent years, stemming partially from its frequent challenge of popular Democratic candidates that haven’t always been willing to bless its platforms unconditionally. In December 2007, before filing for the open 54th Assembly District seat opened, the TALB executive board made an early decision to suspend its own rules and endorse Long Beach City Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga over Vice-Mayor (and now Assemblymember) Bonnie Lowenthal, as well as both Republican candidates and the Libertarian candidate, without holding any interviews or discussion among its general membership.
The District 3 seat itself was occupied by now-Long Beach City Councilmember Suja Lowenthal when TALB recruited controversial teacher Michael Shane Ellis, who had been an outspoken board president at the Centinela Valley Secondary Teachers Association, another local branch of the California Teachers Association, to challenge Lowenthal. The resignation of Ellis and mutual endorsement of Richard Lewis by both TALB and the former school board member, Suja Lowenthal, as well as the Long Beach Chamber, another frequent challenger to the teachers association agenda) was noticed by some as a new commitment by the association to work better with the Long Beach political influentials.
Whether the upset election by John McGinnis puts a hold on this alleged alliance while the TALB leadership figures out its strategy for the April elections will be one frequent subject of discussion for the coffeehouses around Long Beach, where most of the city’s political strategies and local activism are energized.
Showing posts with label TALB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TALB. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Battle for Long Beach's Youth - Meyer & Williams vs. TALB & Ellis
My last post discussed the issue we have with finding more Republicans to take on the special interests of Long Beach, such as the SEIU and the teacher's union, or TALB. On Thursday, your local central committee got together at Francelli's Restaurant on 4th Street in Long Beach to discuss these issues, endorsement recommendations & long-term strategies for sparking the Republican resurgence. The foundation is there with both LBARP & the LB Lincoln Club, but the responsibility for getting more Republicans into office in Long Beach still rests with this committee.
Our meeting kicked off with an introduction to these issues by Long Beach City Council member Gary DeLong from the 3rd District, which has historically been the standard bearers of Republican activity in Long Beach. Mr. DeLong gave a thorough and straight-forward analysis of the current political climate in Long Beach, including the challenges that the Long Beach Unified School District board is facing from TALB. The three primary recommendations from our committee were: 1) Forwarding an endorsement recommendation for incumbent Jon Meyer to the County Executive Committee; 2) Recommending non-partisan support for incumbent Felton Williams; and 3) Encouraging all local Republicans to get involved with the recall effort of TALB loyalist Michael Ellis. Currently, the composition of the LBUSD board includes 2 of the 5 members loyal and devoted to the TALB agenda. One of these members is censured board member Michael Ellis, who has been asked publicly by the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Long Beach Press-Telegram and by both incumbent board members up for re-election to resign. Despite the public outcry from parents, teachers and civic leaders for Ellis' resignation, TALB has not yet (as of this post) concurred with the desires of the citizens of Long Beach. My analysis of the reason that follows is purely my own, but I think most of you will agree it a solid one.
Both incumbents up for re-election, Mr. Jon Meyer (Republican) & Dr. Felton Williams (Democrat), have joined with fellow board member Mary Stanton in holding back the liberal influence of TALB, and have been targeted in April's election by two candidates that have proven to be TALB puppets, "mediator" TALB lawyer Paul Crost & "teacher" TALB activist Rosa E. Diaz. Both were recruited by TALB to specifically go after Meyer & Williams in order to hopefully take over the LBUSD board. With TALB loyalist David Barton safely in place for two more years, TALB needs one of two things to happen: 1) Both TALB candidates defeat their incumbent opponents; or 2) if only one does, they need to defend Ellis' seat. So if both TALB candidates become strong contenders, they can then join the popular movement to call for Ellis' resignation and preserve their image. If only one of the candidates mounts a strong challenger, then they need to sugar-coat the Ellis situation in hopes of still achieving their majority.
But what if...both LBUSD incumbents mount strong campaigns and defend their seats well? THIS poses a great challenge for TALB that I hope motivates Republicans throughout Long Beach, regardless of their district, to action.
If the TALB is unable to gather traction for either of their candidates, they will then have to decide how to defend their hold on the LBUSD 5th District seat. Do they continue supporting Ellis to keep the vote but possibly damage their chances of defending either of their two seats in 2010? Do they quickly urge Ellis to resign, or join the recall effort, in hopes of finding a new TALB loyalist to fill the vacancy before parents & free-thinking teachers do? Even TALB loyalist board member Barton joined with the other three members in the vote supporting the censure motion against Ellis, indicating that even TALB will soon have to cut ties if they stand any chance of gaining its desired majority.
Rumors have already surfaced about possible candidates to run for Ellis' seat, but I'd like to table that posting until the rumors become a little more viable. For now, the best news about the recall effort has been the great support that recall signature gatherers have been getting within the 5th District. There's no doubt in my mind that the minimum number of signatures will be exceeded by a solid 15%-20%, ensuring this makes the November ballot for Long Beach residents of the LBUSD 5th district. Then TALB will definitely have their political hands full trying to decide what to do.
I've got a recommendation for TALB: How about starting a new practice of representing what's best for the students & parents of Long Beach? How about finding better representatives of your organization than drunk-driving, money-hiding candidates like Ellis. So what happens when Meyer and Williams are re-elected and Michael "Shane" Ellis is recalled (or finally wises up and resigns)?
It's up to all of us to make sure that TALB has to deal with that very question. Links to the two election campaigns & the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, leading the recall effort, are in my "Relevant Websites" column at left. Please get involved where you can!
The hearts & minds of the youth of Long Beach are at stake - we can't let them down!
Our meeting kicked off with an introduction to these issues by Long Beach City Council member Gary DeLong from the 3rd District, which has historically been the standard bearers of Republican activity in Long Beach. Mr. DeLong gave a thorough and straight-forward analysis of the current political climate in Long Beach, including the challenges that the Long Beach Unified School District board is facing from TALB. The three primary recommendations from our committee were: 1) Forwarding an endorsement recommendation for incumbent Jon Meyer to the County Executive Committee; 2) Recommending non-partisan support for incumbent Felton Williams; and 3) Encouraging all local Republicans to get involved with the recall effort of TALB loyalist Michael Ellis. Currently, the composition of the LBUSD board includes 2 of the 5 members loyal and devoted to the TALB agenda. One of these members is censured board member Michael Ellis, who has been asked publicly by the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Long Beach Press-Telegram and by both incumbent board members up for re-election to resign. Despite the public outcry from parents, teachers and civic leaders for Ellis' resignation, TALB has not yet (as of this post) concurred with the desires of the citizens of Long Beach. My analysis of the reason that follows is purely my own, but I think most of you will agree it a solid one.
Both incumbents up for re-election, Mr. Jon Meyer (Republican) & Dr. Felton Williams (Democrat), have joined with fellow board member Mary Stanton in holding back the liberal influence of TALB, and have been targeted in April's election by two candidates that have proven to be TALB puppets, "mediator" TALB lawyer Paul Crost & "teacher" TALB activist Rosa E. Diaz. Both were recruited by TALB to specifically go after Meyer & Williams in order to hopefully take over the LBUSD board. With TALB loyalist David Barton safely in place for two more years, TALB needs one of two things to happen: 1) Both TALB candidates defeat their incumbent opponents; or 2) if only one does, they need to defend Ellis' seat. So if both TALB candidates become strong contenders, they can then join the popular movement to call for Ellis' resignation and preserve their image. If only one of the candidates mounts a strong challenger, then they need to sugar-coat the Ellis situation in hopes of still achieving their majority.
But what if...both LBUSD incumbents mount strong campaigns and defend their seats well? THIS poses a great challenge for TALB that I hope motivates Republicans throughout Long Beach, regardless of their district, to action.
If the TALB is unable to gather traction for either of their candidates, they will then have to decide how to defend their hold on the LBUSD 5th District seat. Do they continue supporting Ellis to keep the vote but possibly damage their chances of defending either of their two seats in 2010? Do they quickly urge Ellis to resign, or join the recall effort, in hopes of finding a new TALB loyalist to fill the vacancy before parents & free-thinking teachers do? Even TALB loyalist board member Barton joined with the other three members in the vote supporting the censure motion against Ellis, indicating that even TALB will soon have to cut ties if they stand any chance of gaining its desired majority.
Rumors have already surfaced about possible candidates to run for Ellis' seat, but I'd like to table that posting until the rumors become a little more viable. For now, the best news about the recall effort has been the great support that recall signature gatherers have been getting within the 5th District. There's no doubt in my mind that the minimum number of signatures will be exceeded by a solid 15%-20%, ensuring this makes the November ballot for Long Beach residents of the LBUSD 5th district. Then TALB will definitely have their political hands full trying to decide what to do.
I've got a recommendation for TALB: How about starting a new practice of representing what's best for the students & parents of Long Beach? How about finding better representatives of your organization than drunk-driving, money-hiding candidates like Ellis. So what happens when Meyer and Williams are re-elected and Michael "Shane" Ellis is recalled (or finally wises up and resigns)?
It's up to all of us to make sure that TALB has to deal with that very question. Links to the two election campaigns & the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, leading the recall effort, are in my "Relevant Websites" column at left. Please get involved where you can!
The hearts & minds of the youth of Long Beach are at stake - we can't let them down!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
