El Monte Union High School District elections (2013)
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Three seats on the school board for El Monte Union High School District were up for district wide elections held on November 5, 2013. Maria Elena Talamantes, Esthela Torres De Siegrist and Ricardo Padilla defeated Florencio Briones and Edward Guerrero for three at-large seats.
About the district
El Monte Union High School District is located in the Southeast Los Angeles County, California in El Monte, California. According to the 2010 Census, it was home to 113,475 residents.[1]
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Demographics
As of 2013, the median household income in El Monte was $41,820 compared to $61,632 for the state of California. 11.1% of El Monte 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 El Monte was 22.0% compared to 14.4% for the entire state. The US Census also found that 53.2% of El Monte 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
El Monte Union High School District School Board consists of five members, all of whom are elected to four year terms. All board members represent the district at large. Board member terms are staggered so that at least two members, but no more than three, are to be 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 two remaining seats were up for election on November 3, 2015.
Elections
2013
Candidates
- Florencio Briones
- Education technology specialist
- Edward Guerrero
- Business owner, student
- Ricardo Padilla
- School counselor
- Maria Elena Talamantes
- High school teacher
- Esthela Torres De Siegrist
- Community college professor
Election results
On November 5, 2013, Maria Elena Talamantes, Esthela Torres De Siegrist and Ricardo Padilla won election to the El Monte Union High School District Board of Education.
| El Monte Union High School District Board of Education, At-large General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Maria Elena Talamantes |
26.2% | 3,960 | |
| Nonpartisan | Esthela Torres De Siegrist |
25.1% | 3,782 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ricardo Padilla |
23.6% | 3,559 | |
| Nonpartisan | Florencio Briones | 13.2% | 1,999 | |
| Nonpartisan | Edward Guerrero | 11.9% | 1,788 | |
| Total Votes | 15,088 | |||
| 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 to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
Endorsements
Florencio Briones received official endorsements from EMUHSD Board Member Carlos Salcedo, South El Monte Councilwoman Angelica Garcia and EMCSD Board Member Cathi Eredia. Ricardo Padilla received official endorsements from El Monte Union High School District CSEA, Mayor of El Monte Luis "Louie" Aguinaga and El Monte City Councilmember Victoria Martinez.[4]
Election history
2011
On November 8, 2011, two seats on the El Monte Union High School District Board of Education were up for election. Candidates Juanita M. Gonzales and Salvador Ramirez defeated two challengers.
| El Monte Union High School District Board of Education, At-large General Election, 2011, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Juanita M. Gonzales |
30.5% | 4,552 | |
| Nonpartisan | Salvador Ramirez |
25.7% | 3,836 | |
| Nonpartisan | Esthela Torres De Siegrist | 22.1% | 3,297 | |
| Nonpartisan | Tonson W. Man | 21.7% | 3,246 | |
| Total Votes | 14,931 | |||
| Source: Smart Voter.org, "Governing Board Member; El Monte Union High School District Voter Information" accessed September 20, 2013 | ||||
What was at stake?
Three at-large seats were up for election on November 5, 2013, including the seat of the President. Only incumbent Maria Elena Talamantes filed seeking re-election.
Issues
Teacher layoffs
On March 6, 2013, hundreds of students, teachers, and parents protested outside and within a Board of Education meeting to protest the proposed layoff of 62 teachers to cover a $5.5 million budget shortfall. The district experienced a budget decrease of nearly $65 million over a five year period. The district then increased the number of teacher layoffs to 72 due to some teachers sharing the same hire date. Board member Juanita Gonzalez voted against the layoffs and said, ""Our backs are up against a wall, so we're trying to put out a fire that's been there for years at this time instead of taking care of it year by year and now it's hurting a lot of people, and that's not a way to run a school district."[5]
Key deadlines
The following dates were key deadlines for the El Monte Union High School District election in 2013:[6]
| 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 also featured elections for local and municipal positions, including elections for city clerk, treasurer, mayor and council.[7]
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
- El Monte Union High 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, "El Monte, California Quick Facts" accessed August 30, 2013
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCensus1 - ↑ US Census Bureau, "El Monte, California Quick Facts" accessed August 30, 2013
- ↑ SmartVoter.org, "Governing Board Member; El Monte Union High School District Voter Information," accessed November 5, 2013
- ↑ Juliette Funes San Gabriel Valley Tribune, "Hundreds of El Monte Union High School students, teachers protest proposed layoffs of 62 teachers," accessed March 6, 2013
- ↑ [http://www.lavote.net/voter/PDFS/CALENDAR_EVENTS/11052013.pdf LA Votes, "TENTATIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS " accessed September 20, 2013
- ↑ LA Vote, "FINAL LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT" accessed September 20, 2013
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