The Los Angeles Unified School District has just completed a "disastrous" year that highlighted the many problems facing the district and has resulted in a crowded field vying to represent District 3 on the Board of Education. Each one of these candidates brings their own vision to the race and it is up to the voters to decide which one is most capable of bringing the solutions that our students desperately need. The voters only have two scheduled debates to help them make this decision, the first on February 12 at North Hollywood High School and the second on February 17 at the Canoga Park Elks Lodge. Unfortunately, the incumbent has scheduled a LAUSD Budget Town Hall to compete with the second debate and will not commit to attending the entire event.
The League of Women Voters invited candidates to appear at the Candidate Forum in a letter dated January 14. The Winnetka, Canoga Park, Northridge East and Northridge West Neighborhood Councils announced the final details of this event in a press release dated January 15. Ms. Galatzan provided details of her town hall in an e-mail sent to constituents this morning. By scheduling her town hall at the same time as the Candidate Forum she has not only used district resources to promote herself in the run-up to the election, but has ensured that her opponents will not be available to participate in this public event.
The voters of the district deserve better. Ms. Galatzan should reschedule her Town Hall so that it occurs after the election and commit to attending the full debate.