With two longtime board members retiring, two incumbents seeking reelection, and a total of 18 candidates running, the 2024 race for four seats on the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of education is shaping up to be an interesting one.
Races for the seats in Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 will be on the March primary ballot. Whoever wins next November will wield influence over the education of more than 500,000 students living in every corner of Los Angeles — from San Pedro to Sylmar and Venice to Highland Park.
Incumbents Scott Schmerelson and Tanya Ortiz Franklin will defend seats in Districts 3 and 7, respectively. Meanwhile, the departures next December of longtime boardmembers Jackie Goldberg in District 5 and George McKenna in District 1 create two wide-open contests.
On Wednesday, Dec. 13, the Los Angeles City Clerk released an final list of candidates in the March 5 Primary Election who met the requirements for submitting nominating petitions and collecting the requisite number of valid signatures. Here is who they are:
LAUSD Board District 1: Representing South Los Angeles
Sherlett Newbill: A former teacher, basketball coach and mentor at Dorsey High School.
Dewayne Davis: Educational strategist and adjunct professor at Columbia University Teachers College. Former classroom teacher and principal.
Didi Watts: Chief of staff for LAUSD Board District 7. Former classroom teacher, school psychologist and assistant director of special education.
Kahllid Al-Alim: Community activist and parent of two former LAUSD students.
Christian Flagg: Director of training at Community Coalition, a nonprofit organization founded by Mayor Karen Bass to help more candidates of color run for election in Los Angeles.
Rina Tambor: Parent and tutor, according to information filed with the city clerk’s office.
John Brasfield: Educator and coach, according to information filed with the city clerk’s office.
LAUSD Board District 3: Representing the western San Fernando Valley
Incumbent Scott Schmerelson: Current LAUSD Board Vice President and District 3 representative. Former teacher, counselor and principal.
Raquel Villalta: Mother and former LAUSD teacher.
Andreas Farmakalidis: Veteran and owner of a music school and studio.
Dan Chang: Math teacher at LAUSD’s James Madison Middle School in North Hollywood.
Elizabeth Badger: Disability educator and businesswoman, according to information filed with the city clerk’s office.
LAUSD Board District 5: Representing parts of East and Southeast Los Angeles
Fidencio Gallardo: Classroom teacher and adjunct professor of education at Cal State Los Angeles.
Graciela Ortiz: Administrator in the LAUSD’s Pupil Services department. Former mayor of Huntington Park and current council member.
Karla Griego: Special education teacher at LAUSD and parent of an LAUSD student.
Victorio Gutierrez: Former classroom teacher, school dean and principal.
LAUSD Board District 7: Representing the South Bay and Harbor Region
Incumbent Tanya Ortiz Franklin: Current District 7 representative. Former classroom teacher and education nonprofit leader.
Lydia Gutiérrez: Second grade teacher at Long Beach Unified School District.