Special Election Likely For Silver Lake's LAUSD Rep

SILVER LAKE, CA — The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education will vote later this month on a resolution calling for a March 5, 2019, special election to fill the board seat left vacant by the resignation of Ref Rodriguez.

Rodriguez stepped down in late July after pleading guilty to conspiracy and other charges for laundering campaign donations from family and friends.

The special election is being proposed in a resolution jointly introduced by board President Monica Garcia and Vice President Nick Melvoin. The board is scheduled to vote on the proposal Aug. 21.

The district issued a statement Friday saying, "As elected board members, our collective work is to ensure that the students, families, employees and all stakeholders of the school communities of Board District 5 are fully represented and receive uninterrupted services and support from L.A. Unified."

Board member Scott Schmerelson, meanwhile, introduced a resolution, also scheduled for an Aug. 21 vote, calling for the appointment of former board member Jackie Goldberg to the seat on an interim basis.

"The constituents of Board District 5 endured a tainted election in 2015 and have suffered the absence of a legitimate office holder since July 1, 2015, and therefore immediately deserve a respected and experienced voice and representation on the governing board of the Los Angeles Unified School District," Schmerelson wrote in his motion.

Goldberg, who was originally a teacher, also served on the Los Angeles City Council and served three terms in the state Assembly.

The District 5 seat represents areas including Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Los Feliz, Mount Washington and Silver Lake.

City News Service