All but seven Contra Costa superintendents endorse Aceves
By Theresa Harrington
Thursday, September 9th, 2010 at 5:16 pm in Education, Election.
By Theresa Harrington
Thirteen of 20 Contra Costa County school superintendents have endorsed Larry Aceves in the race for state Superintendent of Public Instruction.
This is a bit surprising, since his opponent is state Assemblyman Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, a Contra Costa County legislator and Mt. Diablo school district teacher on leave.
“Education leaders agree—it is time that we had an experienced superintendent running our schools,” said Larry Aceves in a news release. “I’m honored that so many local leaders are supporting my campaign.”
Here are the county superintendents backing Aceves:
John Stockton, Acalanes Union High School District
Merrill Grant, Brentwood Union School District
Ken Jacopetti, Byron Union School District
Mike McLaughlin, John Swett Unified School District
Fred Brill, Lafayette School District
Jerry Glenn, Liberty Union High School District
Rami Muth, Martinez Unified School District
Bruce Burns, Moraga School District
Rick Rogers, Oakley Elementary Union School District
Joe Jaconette, Orinda Union School District
Steve Enoch, San Ramon Unified School District
Patty Wool, Walnut Creek School District
Joe Ovick, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools
Superintendents not listed are:
Donald Gill, Antioch
David Doty, Canyon
Theresa Estrada, Knightsen
Steven Lawrence, Mt. Diablo
Linda Rondeaux, Pittsburg
Bruce Harter, West Contra Costa
Helen Benjamin, Contra Costa Community College District
Aceves began his education career in 1974 as a kindergarten teacher at Bayside Elementary School in San Diego. He later went on to serve as a principal at Imperial Beach Elementary School in San Diego and as a superintendent Alum Rock and Franklin-McKinley school districts in San Jose.
Torlakson has received endorsements from several organizations including the California Democratic Party, California Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, California School Employees Association, California Faculty Association, California Association of Bilingual Educators PAC and the California Community College Independents.
He began his political career on the Antioch City Council, then was elected to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, and the California State Senate and State Assembly.
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September 7th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
You know, Joe Ovick is listed as a Torlakson endorser too.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Yes, Ovick is listed on Torlakson’s list of endorsements: http://www.tomtorlakson.com/endorsements.
Here’s the list of Superintendent endorsements from Torlakson’s website:
COUNTY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS
Superintendent Vicki Barber, El Dorado County
Former Superintendent Bill Barr, Monterey County
Superintendent Kelly Bowers, Livermore USD
Superintendent Elliott Duchon, Jurupa USD
Former Superintendent Herb Fisher, San Bernardino Cty
Superintendent Sheila Jordan, Alameda County
Superintendent Barbara Nemko, Napa County
Superintendent Joseph Ovick, Contra Costa County
Superintendent Frank Passarella, Lake Elsinore USD
Superintendent Stan Scheer, Murrieta Valley USD
Superintendent Susan Silver, Scotts Valley USD
Superintendent Kenneth M. Young, Riverside County
Superintendent Michael Watkins, Santa Cruz County Superintendent Carl Wong, Sonoma County
September 9th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Interesting that four MDUSD Trustees endorse Torlakson and the Supt doesn’t.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:21 am
MDUSD trustees Dick Allen, Gary Eberhart, Linda Mayo and Paul Strange are all listed as Torlakson supporters. Trustee Sherry Whitmarsh is not listed.
September 9th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Theresa, I see Sherry Whitmarsh listed, and now found Linda Mayo listed, but not in alphabetical order. So now all five are supporting Torlakson.
September 9th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Yes, they appear to be in alphabetical order by last name.
Here are the Contra Costa County board member endorsements for Torlakson:
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
Board Member Richard Allen, Mt. Diablo USD
Board Member Gary Eberhart, Mt. Diablo USD
Board Member Linda Mayo, Mt. Diablo USD
Board Member Dexter Louie, Moraga SD
Board Member Kathi McLaughlin, Martinez USD
Former Board Member Alpha Quincy, Contra Costa County BOE
Board Member Walter Ruehlig, Antioch USD
Board Member Paul Strange, Mt. Diablo USD
Board Member Tony Thurmond, West Contra Costa USD
Trustee Tomi Van de Brooke, Contra Costa CCD
Trustee Sherry Whitmarsh, Mt. Diablo USD
Mt. Diablo appears to be the only full board in the county that has endorsed him.
September 9th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
UPDATE: Ovick’s spokeswoman, Peggy Marshburn, called to explain his apparent double-endorsement.
She said Ovick endorsed Torlakson early on in the primary race, when his main competition was Gloria Romero. Marshburn said Aceves entered the race after Ovick gave his endorsement to Torlakson.
Ovick supported Torlakson in the primary, she said. After the primary election, Ovick and district superintendents interviewed both candidates, with most deciding to support Aceves because of his experience as a school superintendent, Marshburn said.
So, Marshburn said, Ovick’s endorsement “has moved to Larry Aceves.”
September 10th, 2010 at 10:27 am
FRIDAY UPDATE: Marshburn called again to say that Mt. Diablo schools Superintendent Steven Lawrence has informed Ovick his name was added to the Aceves endorsement list in error. Lawrence has asked that his name be removed.
With this amendment, the Aceves list includes all but seven Contra Costa County district superintendents.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:42 am
Another tap dance by Lawrence. We should chip in for some Arthur Murray lessons for him.
October 10th, 2010 at 11:16 am
You nailed it Dr. J!
Lawrence HAS to be on the same side as his board right since they have protected and shielded him through all his scandals and screwups!!!
October 10th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Maybe Lawrence doesn’t make any decisions on his own. Maybe Lawrence’s first endorsement was HIS endorsement.
Maybe Lawrence has sold his soul for $250,000.
Just a thought.