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Mónica García (Los Angeles Unified School District, California)
Mónica García was a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District in California, representing District 2. García assumed office in 2006. García left office on December 9, 2022.
García ran for election to the Los Angeles City Council to represent District 14 in California. García lost in the primary on March 3, 2020.
Biography
García was born in East Los Angeles. She earned a bachelor's degree in Chicano studies and political science from the University of California at Berkeley and an M.S.W. from the University of Southern California.[1]
Before getting elected to the board, García served as chief of staff under Los Angeles Unified Board of Education President José Huizar during his four-year term. Prior to that, she worked as an academic advisor with Volunteers of America’s Educational Talent Search Program.[2]
When García was first elected in 2006, she became the third Latina to serve on the school board.[2]
Elections
2020
See also: City elections in Los Angeles, California (2020)
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Los Angeles City Council District 14
Kevin de León won election outright against Cyndi Otteson, Raquel Zamora, Mónica García, and John Jimenez in the primary for Los Angeles City Council District 14 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kevin de León (Nonpartisan)  | 52.6 | 25,083 |
| Cyndi Otteson (Nonpartisan) | 19.5 | 9,294 | ||
| Raquel Zamora (Nonpartisan) | 13.6 | 6,483 | ||
| Mónica García (Nonpartisan) | 11.0 | 5,222 | ||
| John Jimenez (Nonpartisan) | 3.3 | 1,595 | ||
| Total votes: 47,677 | |||
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2017
Three seats on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education were up for primary election on March 7, 2017. A general election was held on May 16, 2017, for the District 4 and 6 seats. In her bid for re-election to the District 2 seat, incumbent Mónica García defeated challengers Lisa Alva and Carl Petersen and won another term outright by receiving a majority of votes in the primary. In District 4, board President Steve Zimmer advanced to the general election with challenger Nick Melvoin after they defeated Gregory Martayan and Allison Holdorff Polhill. Melvoin defeated Zimmer in the general election. Six candidates—Kelly Fitzpatrick-Gonez, Patty Lopez, Imelda Padilla, Araz Parseghian, Gwendolyn Posey, and Jose Sandoval—filed to run for the open District 6 seat in the primary. Fitzpatrick-Gonez and Padilla advanced to the general election, where Fitzpatrick-Gonez won the seat. District 6 incumbent Monica Ratliff opted not to run for re-election to the board and instead ran for a Los Angeles City Council seat.[3][4][5][6]
Results
| Los Angeles Unified School District, District 2 Primary Election, 5-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Mónica García Incumbent |
55.68% | 20,710 |
| Lisa Alva | 34.38% | 12,788 |
| Carl Petersen | 9.94% | 3,696 |
| Total Votes | 37,194 | |
| Source: Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, "Los Angeles County Election Results: Consolidated Municipal and Special Elections March 7, 2017," accessed March 30, 2017 | ||
Funding
García reported $233,520.53 in contributions and $229,866.41 in expenditures to the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, which left her campaign with $3,654.12 on hand in the election.[7]
Endorsements
García received endorsements from the following organizations and elected officials:[8][9][10]
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García also received endorsements from members of the community. Click here to see a list of her supporters.
2013
García won re-election in 2013. She faced Abelardo Diaz, Robert D. Skeels, Annamarie Montañez, and Isabel Vazquez in the primary election on March 5, 2013.[11][12]
Results
| Los Angeles Unified School District, District 2 Primary Election, 4-year term, 2013 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Mónica García Incumbent |
55.8% | 19,300 | |
| Nonpartisan | Robert D. Skeels | 15.2% | 5,244 | |
| Nonpartisan | Annamarie Montañez | 11.8% | 4,093 | |
| Nonpartisan | Isabel Vazquez | 10.1% | 3,480 | |
| Nonpartisan | Abelardo Diaz | 7.1% | 2,448 | |
| Total Votes | 34,565 | |||
| Source: Los Angeles City Clerk's Office, "Primary Nominating Election, Official Election Results," accessed January 14, 2015 | ||||
Endorsements
García received endorsements from the following organizations:
- California Charter Schools Association[13]
- Coalition for School Reform[14]
- Los Angeles Daily News[15]
- Los Angeles Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO)[16]
- Los Angeles Times[17]
- Service Employees International Union Local 99[18][19]
- Teamsters Local 572[20]
- Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan[21]
Support from mayoral candidates
- See also: Los Angeles mayoral election, 2013
García's re-election bid was an issue in the Los Angeles mayoral candidate forum held on February 7, 2013. Moderator Austin Beutner asked the candidates, "In School Board President Mónica García's bid for re-election, who would you vote for?" Only Jan Perry (clarifying her answer following the event) and Wendy Greuel expressed outright support for García. Though he said he admires García, Eric Garcetti stopped short of an endorsement. Kevin James and Emanuel Pleitez passed, saying they did not know, although the former said he had a positive opinion of García's challenger Abelardo Diaz.[22]
Funding
García reported $504,224.29 in contributions and $517,305.61 in expenditures to the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, which left her campaign with $13,081.32 in debt in the election.[23]
2009
García won re-election in the 2009 election to the District 2 seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education.[24]
| Los Angeles Unified School District, District 2 Primary Election, 4-year term, 2009 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Mónica García Incumbent |
100% | 22,123 | |
| Total Votes | 22,123 | |||
| Source: Los Angeles City Clerk, "Primary Nominating & Consolidated Elections Official Election Results, March 3, 2009," accessed February 11, 2015 | ||||
2006
García won election in the 2006 special election to the District 2 seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. García came in first among five candidates in the nonpartisan primary race, but did not capture more than 50 percent. The top two vote-getters, García and Christopher Arellano, met in a special general election, which García won.[25][26]
| Los Angeles Unified School District, District 2 Special General Election, 3-year term, 2006 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Mónica García |
74.4% | 18,600 | |
| Nonpartisan | Christopher Arellano | 25.6% | 6,396 | |
| Total Votes | 24,996 | |||
| Source: City of Los Angeles, "LAUSD 2 - Special Election Results March 7, 2006," accessed February 5, 2013 | ||||
| Los Angeles Unified School District, District 2 Special Primary Election, 3-year term, 2006 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Mónica García |
47.4% | 7,112 | |
| Nonpartisan | Christopher Arellano | 19.2% | 2,877 | |
| Nonpartisan | Enrique Gasca | 13% | 1,943 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ana Teresa Fernandez | 10.8% | 1,622 | |
| Nonpartisan | Maria Lou Calanche | 9.6% | 1,442 | |
| Total Votes | 14,996 | |||
| Source: City of Los Angeles, "LAUSD 2 - Special Election runoff Results June 2006," accessed February 5, 2013 | ||||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mónica García did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Candidate website
García highlighted the following school improvements on her campaign website:
| “ | Mónica García’s effective leadership on the school board is a major reason why tests scores and graduation rates at neighborhood schools are increasing and the dropout rate is down. She has secured funds to reduce overcrowding and improve the quality of education by upgrading outdated classrooms and science labs, repairing deteriorating schools to improve student safety, and creating new, smaller neighborhood schools so students are better prepared for college and to get the job skills they need to work in a 21st Century economy.
Mónica was elected six years ago to reform our schools and, as our school board member, she successfully took on the school bureaucracy. She fought to give parents more choices of where they send their children to school; increased local control and decision-making to empower parents, teachers and principals; and is working to increase teacher accountability. García also cut wasteful spending and reduced bureaucratic staff by nearly fifty percent so more of our money goes into the classroom. And Mónica García is working closely with prosecutors, children’s advocates, and State Senator Alex Padilla to enact legislation that protects students by making it easier to fire school employees suspected of crimes, including child abuse. A broad coalition that includes Los Angeles school police officers, parent groups, community-based organizations, and local labor unions support Mónica García because she is committed to keeping our children safe. Thanks to Mónica’s leadership, the district has taken many steps towards transforming our schools for the better. • Mónica established the policy that every Los Angeles Unified student have access to a college track education, which requires clear academic achievement standards for core English, math and science. • She improved coordination between teachers, guidance counselors, and school police officers to keep at-risk students in school and away from gangs and drugs. • She implemented a pilot program that is recruiting and training more qualified teachers for our schools. • She spearheaded the creation of 32 teaching academies – providing greater flexibility and local control, and more teacher training. • She led the effort to secure funding to repair deteriorating classrooms, bathrooms and electrical wiring; and upgrade science labs and computer technology; improve job training programs; and upgrade fire alarms to improve student safety at every neighborhood school. • She led the effort to reduce the school district’s bureaucracy and central district staff by 48 percent over the past four years. • She is working with parents, school nurses, school police officers and local law enforcement to identify and quickly remove or fire teachers and other school employees suspected of child abuse. • She spearheaded the creation of School Report Cards, distributed each year to all parents in the district to increase accountability in every neighborhood school. • She has made it a priority to expand career education programs so students have access to computers and technology training needed for 21st Century jobs. • She has been a strong advocate for local schools by fighting for our fair share of state and federal education funds. • She has been a leader in creating partnerships between local schools, businesses, colleges and universities, and labor unions to improve classroom education – and to provide students with opportunities to develop job skills and gain real world experience • She has successfully enacted reforms that have created new charter schools, academies, and schools using non-traditional curriculums for more than 200 thousand students. • She has been a leader in helping parents and community-based groups create new neighborhood schools with specialized curriculums in math, science, technology and the arts. THE RESULTS: LAUSD is the fastest-improving school district in California • Graduation rates have increased by 16 percent since 2007. • The percentage of 3rd graders reading at grade level has increased by 17 percent. • Forced busing has been ended by building 129 new schools with 160,000 new seats for students. • Over-crowding in classrooms has been reduced, and year-round school schedules have virtually been eliminated, from 227 campuses to 3.[27] |
” |
| —Mónica García (2017)[28] | ||
89.3 KPCC survey
García participated in the following survey conducted by 89.3 KPCC. The questions provided in the survey appear in bold and García's responses follow below.[29]
Why do you want to be a member of the L.A. Unified School Board?
| “ | I want to be a school board member at L.A. Unified because we have made a difference in children’s lives. I am part of a coalition that has been successful at increasing graduation, reducing suspensions and dropouts and we are proud of our progress but we are not done. We know education interrupts poverty. We know we can be the top urban district in the country. We have more to do – children are counting on us.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (February 17, 2017)[29] | ||
Superintendent Michelle King is in her thirteenth month in the district’s top job. On an A-F scale, how would you grade her first year? Please explain your answer.
| “ | Superintendent Michelle King won the rookie of the year award for superintendents. She receives an A- on an A-F scale, with high marks for effort, high marks for pushing an all hands on deck A-G completion at L.A Unified, where she took us from 54 percent to 75 percent in June. She models the vision walking; a graduate, a parent, an employee of the district who is calling on everyone to help us move us to 100 percent graduation.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (February 17, 2017)[29] | ||
Please name one idea or policy you don’t see Superintendent King, district leaders or the school board discussing often enough that — if elected — you’d work on either implementing or expanding in L.A. Unified?
| “ | I’ve been on the board for 10 years and I still feel the district can do more to figure out how to accelerate the pace of change. More kids need to read at grade level, more parents need to be informed of options, more leaders need to be supported as they choose to create strategies and polices to help their children. We can do more, we must move faster.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (February 17, 2017)[29] | ||
Do you believe expanding “school choice” policies (giving parents more ability to choose the school their child attends) is a force for eliminating or exacerbating the educational opportunity gap between privileged and less-privileged racial, linguistic or socioeconomic groups? Please explain your rationale.
| “ | Choice is a powerful force in life and school choice absolutely helps parents make the best decision for their child. We have to bring equity to the school district and, therefore, increasing options for parents, increasing the power of parents, increasing high quality across the district, absolutely works to eliminate the disparities that we see across town.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (February 17, 2017)[29] | ||
How, if at all, would you change L.A. Unified’s approach to “authorizing” and overseeing charter schools? (Your answer may touch on any facet of the relationship — from vetting applications to open new charter schools; renewing or revoking existing charters; monitoring charter schools’ performance, governance and finance; handling Prop. 39 campus-sharing arrangements.)
| “ | I would love to see every school in L.A Unified come before the board and talk about the plan for the next five years. Charters in particular should talk about how they are impacting neighborhoods and working with community-based organizations and other schools. At the end of the day, if we all feel like we are one community, we are serving the kids and families of a certain region, we can be successful[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (February 17, 2017)[29] | ||
L.A. Unified faces long-term financial challenges, including declining enrollment and rising costs for pensions and employee benefits. A blue-ribbon panel in Nov. 2015 also highlighted further issues that cloud the district’s financial future. If elected, what immediate steps would you take to address these financial challenges?
| “ | Our financial outlook absolutely will require a team approach of experienced, committed and dedicated public servants. We need more investment in the schools of California, period. What we have today is not adequate. Looking forward to the next 10 years and looking at the challenges on our finance. Number 1: We have to increase achievement. Number 2: We have to be willing to change. Number 3: We have to bring our partners together, help them understand what it will take to preserve benefits and build the district everybody wants to be a part of. We have made small steps towards progress; we have a lot more to do.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (February 17, 2017)[29] | ||
The L.A. Unified board has set a district-wide goal of a 100 percent high school graduation rate. How, if at all, would you change the district’s approach to meeting this goal? (Or would you change the goal itself?)
| “ | Our community has demanded 100 percent percent graduation for decades. The fact that LAUSD has accepted that mission, that responsibility, reflects a belief in every kid, every family, every school and every community. It is the right goal; we must accelerate the pace towards reaching it. We have to continue to decentralize and personalize. Understanding the needs of each child helps us provide the services they need to reach their goals to be college-ready, career-prepared, to do the most they can in life, and build the strongest Los Angeles that we can.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (February 17, 2017)[29] | ||
2013
Q&A
García answered the following questions prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles:[30]
1. What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? As a Board Member, what would you do to deal with it?[30]
| “ | We need to reshape the culture of our schools to establish high expectations. We must believe and work so that every child graduates from high School and is able to go to college. This means we need to give our students the tools they need to get there-- counseling, tutoring, summer supports, college fairs and--most importantly--a rigorous college preparatory curriculum.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (2013)[30] | ||
2. How would you prioritize your local constituency in overseeing LAUSD management, setting District policy, and day-to-day decision-making?[30]
| “ | We need to make sure we are evaluating our progress with students, that resources are getting into the classroom, and that the schools are safe. We must measure our 3rd grading reading levels, attendance, graduation, and college preparedness. We set the policy and the goals, and we must make sure day to day decisions, have local input, but work towards those ends.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (2013)[30] | ||
3. What experience in general management, fiscal management, and budgetary oversight would you bring to the job of Board Member?[30]
| “ | As Board President during a period of time in which we have lost billions of dollars in reduced revenue I have worked hard with our teachers, administrators, parents and community to make sure we do everything we can to make the best decisions. It has been tough, but we have made it through and need to continue to work together to make sure we have the resources we need to give our children the best education possible.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (2013)[30] | ||
4. How should LAUSD deal with its rapidly increasing costs for retiree and employee health care?[30]
| “ | There is no question what our schools need, across the country, is a massive reinvestment. The numbers do not add up. We have had massive cuts and we need to restore funding. Yet, I do not support taking away what we have promised our workers. We have lost over $2B in funding over the last few years. We need to restore previous levels of funding.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (2013)[30] | ||
5. What part should standardized testing play in LAUSD's educational programs?[30]
| “ | Testing is a part of our work. However, we cannot overburden ourselves with testing, and we cannot teach for tests. We must focus on key indicators like, 3rd grade reading levels, graduation rates, drop out rates, and college preparation. Testing is a part of what we do, but student success is the goal.[27] | ” |
| —Mónica García (2013)[30] | ||
Arts for LA survey
García completed the candidate survey from Arts for LA, a group advocating for greater investment in the arts. Pointing to a shortage of funds, García argued that the district "must work hard to bring these funds back and make sure arts are on top of our priority list."[31]
DFER report card
The political action committee Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) issued the following report card for García on February 14, 2013.[32]
- Parent Choice and Quality Schools - B+
- School District Transparency - A
- District Leadership - A
- Teacher Effectiveness and Quality - A
Campaign literature
During the 2013 campaign, García registered 22 pieces of campaign literature with the City of Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. The campaign literature included 11 emails, 6 mailers, 1 flyer, and 4 telephone scripts.[33]
Among independent expenditure groups, the Coalition for School Reform, Richard Riordan, and political action committees affiliated with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99 registered mailers, TV ad scripts, flyers, telephone scripts, emails, and a radio script supporting García. Political action committees affiliated with United Teachers Los Angeles registered mailers, flyers, and telephone scripts opposing García.[34]
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Los Angeles Unified School District, "Mónica García Board Member - Representing District 2: Biography," accessed December 20, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mónica García for L.A. School Board #2, "About Mónica García," accessed January 18, 2017
- ↑ Los Angeles City Clerk, "2017 Primary Nominating Election Candidates: Nominating Petition Filing Status," accessed December 13, 2016
- ↑ 98.3 KPCC, "Crowded field for Los Angeles primary election in March, but no serious threat yet for Garcetti," December 8, 2016
- ↑ Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, "Los Angeles County Election Results: Consolidated Municipal and Special Elections March 7, 2017," accessed March 8, 2017
- ↑ Los Angeles City Clerk, "Election Night Results (Unofficial): May 16, 2017," accessed May 17, 2017
- ↑ Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, "2017 City and LAUSD Elections," accessed August 1, 2017
- ↑ Mónica García for L.A. School Board #2, "Supporters," accessed March 2, 2017
- ↑ Service Employees International Union Local 99, "A Voice for Quality Schools, Good Jobs: Members vote to endorse Imelda Padilla for LAUSD Board," accessed January 19, 2017
- ↑ CCSA Advocates, "CCSA Advocates endorses four candidates for Los Angeles Unified school board," January 26, 2017
- ↑ Facebook, "Monica García post March 5, 2013," accessed March 6, 2013
- ↑ The Los Angeles Times, "LA Primary results," accessed March 6, 2013
- ↑ CCSA Advocates, "Independent Expenditure Committee's Form 462," January 29, 2013
- ↑ Coalition for School Reform, "Why we support Mónica García," accessed February 13, 2013
- ↑ Los Angeles Daily News, "Editorial endorsements: Three for LAUSD board - and for education reform," February 23, 2013
- ↑ Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, "March 2013 primary election Endorsements," accessed February 13, 2013
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "For L.A. school board," February 15, 2013
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "LAUSD workers union endorses both school board incumbents," December 10, 2012
- ↑ SEIU 99, "More on our endorsed candidates for LAUSD and LACCD Boards," January 17, 2013
- ↑ Teamsters 572, "2013 candidate recommendations," accessed February 13, 2013
- ↑ Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, "Email registered by Richard Riordan," March 1, 2013
- ↑ LA School Report, "Candidate Garcetti Waffles on School Board Endorsement," February 8, 2013
- ↑ Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, "2013 City and LAUSD Elections," accessed January 5, 2017
- ↑ City of Los Angeles, "Primary Nominating & Consolidated Elections Official Election Results March 3, 2009," accessed February 5, 2013
- ↑ City of Los Angeles, "LAUSD 2 - Special Election Results March 7, 2006," accessed February 5, 2013
- ↑ City of Los Angeles, "LAUSD 2 - Special Election runoff Results June 2006," accessed February 5, 2013
- ↑ 27.00 27.01 27.02 27.03 27.04 27.05 27.06 27.07 27.08 27.09 27.10 27.11 27.12 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Mónica García for L.A. School Board #2, "Improving Our Schools," accessed January 16, 2017
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 29.7 89.3 KPCC, "KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Mónica García, District 2," February 17, 2017
- ↑ 30.00 30.01 30.02 30.03 30.04 30.05 30.06 30.07 30.08 30.09 30.10 Smart Voter, "Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues: Board Member; Los Angeles Unified School District; District 2," accessed February 5, 2013
- ↑ Arts for LA, "Spring 2013 Candidate Surveys: LA Unified School District," accessed February 5, 2013
- ↑ Democrats for Education Reform, "CA Report Cards: Monica García and Steve Zimmer," accessed February 14, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, "LAUSD District 2 campaign literature," accessed March 5, 2013
- ↑ Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, "LAUSD District 2 independent expenditures related to Mónica García," accessed March 5, 2013
| |||||||||
| Los Angeles Unified School District elections in 2017 | |
| Los Angeles County, California | |
| Election date: | Primary election: March 7, 2017 • General election: May 16, 2017 |
| Candidates: | District 2: • Incumbent, Mónica García • Lisa Alva • Carl Petersen District 4: • Incumbent, Steve Zimmer • Gregory Martayan • Nick Melvoin • Allison Holdorff Polhill District 6: • Kelly Fitzpatrick-Gonez • Patty Lopez • Imelda Padilla • Araz Parseghian • Gwendolyn Posey • Jose Sandoval |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
| |||||||||||||
