4 school board trustees retain seats

Angelique Flores

Four incumbent school board trustees will keep their seats for another

term -- without having to go through an election.

Catherine McGough and Brian Rechsteiner from the Huntington Beach City

School District and Julie Hoxsie and Joanne Lew from Fountain Valley

School District are all running unopposed. No one else filed the

necessary paperwork for candidacy.

“We’re already celebrating,� McGough said.

Bypassing an election because the number of candidates fit the number

of vacant seats in Huntington Beach City School District is unique,

McGough said.

Supt. Duane Dishno can’t recall it happening during the 20 years he

has been with the district.

“I take this as a very positive sign of confidence on the part of the

community in the policies and direction of the board of trustees,� he

said.

And the community must be satisfied with the balance of the board,

McGough added.

The candidates are also pleased to save the time and money that would

have been spent on the campaign.

“It takes time and energy,� Trustee Joanne Lew said. “We can use that

time and energy on the district.�

The district saves money too.

In Huntington Beach, costs can add up to $4,000 for an election, and

about $1,800 is usually spent in Fountain Valley.

“Although I enjoy the democratic process, it takes attention away from

teaching and learning,� Fountain Valley School District Supt. Marc Ecker

said.

While the Huntington Beach district is surprised at the occurrence,

this is not uncommon for the Fountain Valley district. In 1996, Lew filed

for candidacy unopposed.

“The district enjoys a tremendous amount of support, which may be what

has led to the reluctance of individuals to run against� Hoxsie and Lew,

Ecker said.