Downey Unified School District elections (2013)
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Three seats on the school board for Downey Unified School District were up for district wide elections held on November 5, 2013. Martha E. Sodetani defeated Victor Manuel Malagon for the Trustee Area 1 seat, while Nancy A. Swenson defeated John N. Anagnostou for the Trustee Area 5 seat, and Barbara Rae Samperi defeated three candidates for the Trustee Area 7 seat.
About the district
Downey Unified School District is located in the Southeast Los Angeles County, California in Downey, California. It is located in the largest county in California. According to the 2010 Census, it is home to 111,772 residents.[1]
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Demographics
As of 2013, the median household income in Downey was $59,773 compared to $61,632 for the state of California. 18.8% of Downey residents aged 25 years and older attained a bachelor's degree compared to 30.2% in California. The US Census also showed the poverty rate in Downey was 11.3% compared to 14.4% for the entire state. The US Census also found that 75.4% of Downey residents aged 25 years and older attained a high school degree compared to a 80.8% in California.[3]
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Method of board member selection
Downey Unified School District School Board consists of seven members, all of whom are elected to four year terms. All board members represent geographic areas known as "trustee areas" 1 through 7. Board member terms are staggered so that at least three members, but no more than four, are elected each odd numbered year on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. There are no primary elections. Three seats were up for election on November 5, 2013. The four remaining seats were up for election on November 3, 2015.
Election history
2013
Trustee Area 1
- Victor Manuel Malagon
- Industrial maintenance electrician
- Martha E. Sodetani
- Incumbent
Trustee Area 5
- John N. Anagnostou
- Electrician
- Nancy A. Swenson
- Incumbent
Trustee Area 7
- Betty Luz Monroy
- Downey Library Commissioner
- Barbara Rae Samperi
- Incumbent
- Leslie Jane Valencia
- Banker
- Bertha Rath Valenzuela
- Retired bilingual teacher
Election results
On November 5, 2013 candidates Martha E. Sodetani, Nancy A. Swenson and Barbara Rae Samperi were re-elected to the Downey Unified School District Board of Education.
| Downey Unified School District Board of Education, Trustee Area 1 General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Martha E. Sodetani |
90.6% | 711 | |
| Nonpartisan | Victor Manuel Malagon | 9.4% | 74 | |
| Total Votes | 785 | |||
| Source: Los Angeles County Clerk, "NOVEMBER 5, 2013 - LOCAL & MUNI CONSOLIDATED ELECTION Final Official Election Returns" accessed December 12, 2013 | ||||
| Downey Unified School District Board of Education, Trustee Area 5 General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Nancy A. Swenson |
76.3% | 437 | |
| Nonpartisan | John N. Anagnostou | 23.7% | 136 | |
| Total Votes | 573 | |||
| Source: Los Angeles County Clerk, "NOVEMBER 5, 2013 - LOCAL & MUNI CONSOLIDATED ELECTION Final Official Election Returns" accessed December 12, 2013 | ||||
| Downey Unified School District Board of Education, Trustee Area 7 General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Barbara Rae Samperi |
59.9% | 387 | |
| Nonpartisan | Betty Luz Monroy | 24.3% | 157 | |
| Nonpartisan | Bertha Rath Valenzuela | 11.1% | 72 | |
| Nonpartisan | Leslie Jane Valencia | 4.6% | 30 | |
| Total Votes | 646 | |||
| Source: Los Angeles County Clerk, "NOVEMBER 5, 2013 - LOCAL & MUNI CONSOLIDATED ELECTION Final Official Election Returns" accessed December 12, 2013 | ||||
Funding
No contributions or expenditures were reported during the election, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
2011
Four seats from Trustee Areas 2, 3, 4, and 6 were up for election on November 8, 2011. Tod M. Corrin, William Gutierrez, Donald E. La Plante, and D. Mark Morris were all unopposed in their respective districts and won uncontested elections.
What was at stake?
Three seats were up for election on November 5, 2013, including the districts of Trustee Areas 1, 5 and 7. Incumbents Martha E. Sodetani, Nancy A. Swenson and Barbara Rae Samperi filed seeking re-election.
Issues
Anti-bullying policy
The Downey Unified School District updated its anti-bullying policy to comply with the Safe Place to Learn Act. This act requires that California school districts adopt policies that include words that protect bullying against perceived and actual “gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation.” As of September 18, 2012, the Downey Unified School District was in compliance with the Safe Place to Learn Act. Although in compliance, Dr. Robert Jagielski, director of student services for the Downey Unified School District commented, “What happens a lot of times with all the cuts is things fall through the cracks; there’s no one to do it. In our case, I feel strongly about what we’re doing to address bullying period.”[4]
Key deadlines
The following dates were key deadlines for the Downey Unified School District election in 2013:[5]
| Deadline | Event |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2013 | First day to file a petition of candidacy |
| August 9, 2013 | Close of filing period for petition of candidacy |
| October 21, 2013 | Last day to register to vote in school election |
| October 29, 2013 | Final day to apply to vote by mail |
| November 5, 2013 | Election Day |
Additional elections on the ballot
The ballot for the November 5, 2013 election in Los Angeles County featured elections for local and municipal positions, such as elections for City Clerk, City Treasurer, Mayor and City Council.[6]
See also
- California school board elections draw over 200 candidates
- School board elections review: Voters opt for experience over new blood in nation's largest school districts
- School board election wrap-up: Incumbents re-elected overwhelmingly in November 5 elections
- California
- Downey Unified School District, California
- List of school board elections in 2013
- Los Angeles County, California ballot measures
- Local ballot measures, California
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ US Census Bureau, "Downey, California Quick Facts" accessed September 17, 2013
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCensus1 - ↑ US Census Bureau, "Downey, California Quick Facts" accessed September 17, 2013
- ↑ VoiceWaves.com, "LGBT anti-bullying efforts may ‘fall through the cracks’ due to budget cuts," accessed September 17, 2013
- ↑ [http://www.lavote.net/voter/PDFS/CALENDAR_EVENTS/11052013.pdf LA Votes, "TENTATIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS " accessed September 16, 2013
- ↑ LA Vote, "FINAL LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT" accessed September 17, 2013
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