Raquel Villalta

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Raquel Villalta

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 5, 2024

Personal

Profession

Teacher

Contact

Campaign website

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Raquel Villalta ran for election to the Los Angeles Unified School District to represent District 3 in California. She lost in the primary on March 5, 2024.

Villalta completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Raquel Villalta's career experience includes working as a teacher.

Elections

2024

See also: Los Angeles Unified School District, California, elections (2024)

General election

General election for Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education District 3

Incumbent Scott Mark Schmerelson defeated Dan Chang in the general election for Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education District 3 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Scott Mark Schmerelson (Nonpartisan)	51.6	124,331
		Dan Chang (Nonpartisan)	48.4	116,478

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 240,809
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education District 3

The following candidates ran in the primary for Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education District 3 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Scott Mark Schmerelson (Nonpartisan)	44.5	50,669
✔		Dan Chang (Nonpartisan)	29.0	33,004
		Raquel Villalta (Nonpartisan)	12.0	13,632
	Submit photo	Elizabeth Badger (Nonpartisan)	8.2	9,287
		Andreas Farmakalidis (Nonpartisan)	6.3	7,131
	Submit photo	Janie Dam (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	0.1	81

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3	Total votes: 113,804
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Villalta in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released August 19, 2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Raquel Villalta completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Villalta's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Raquel Villalta and I am honored to announce that I will be running for LAUSD school board district 3 in the San Fernando Valley. I am a Nationally Board Certified Teacher which is the highest accomplishment a teacher can receive. In addition to serving in the classroom, I have also mentored and coached new teachers. I understand the needs of students, teachers but also parents. I am also a mother of children within the district. Our school board needs parental representation at the table.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Restore Academic Excellence: Our public schools are failing our children. 70% of our students are not performing at grade level in math, and about 54% of students are not reading at grade level. Despite our $18 billion budget, we continue to see a steep decline in reading and math scores.
• Parental Rights- LAUSD has passed a curriculum that sows seeds of confusion in our children. Schools are being used for indoctrination rather than education. We need to retain parental rights to decide when and how children should be introduced to complex social issues and protect the innocence of the children.
• School Safety-Due to political decisions, LAUSD defunded school police, resulting in their removal from secondary school campuses. Consequently, we're witnessing a concerning rise in crimes, including incidents involving knives, battery, and drugs within our schools. It's important that we reinstate our school police to ensure the safety of our children and staff members.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

All of the above- As a school board member, I will address these issues by advocating for greater transparency and parental involvement in curriculum development and implementation. I will also support policies that uphold academic rigor, promote parental rights, and provide a quality education without promoting political or ideological agendas. Additionally, I hope to empower our local communities to make decisions that reflect the values of the constituents

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is the Bible because it is full of wisdom which guides and counsels me on important decisions.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

MOM & DAD Army, LAGOP, CAHRC

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

My philosophy and ideas on fiscal policy in school districts are centered around maximizing efficiency, prioritizing academic outcomes, and respecting taxpayer dollars. It's crucial to use resources within districts efficiently, supported by transparent budgeting processes and accountability mechanisms to ensure effective allocation for student learning and achievement. Implementing measures such as performance-based budgeting and regular audits can identify areas for cost savings and enhance resource allocation. Moreover, prioritizing fiscal responsibility and long-term planning is paramount. Resources should be allocated based on academic priorities and student needs, directing funding toward proven programs and initiatives like teacher training, curriculum development, and support services for struggling students. My goal is to use taxpayer dollars wisely to support student success and promote a high-quality education.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

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Candidate

Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education District 3

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