Nearly 400 Race for Councils and School Boards

By SHELBY GRAD LESLEY WRIGHT and LORI HAYCOX

Aug. 15, 1996 12 AM PT

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SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Nearly 400 candidates entered races for scores of city council and school board seats by Wednesday’s filing deadline, although the final ballot makeup of one key race is being contested.

Residents in 29 cities and 27 school districts will choose representatives on Nov. 5 in an election notable for the number of incumbents not seeking new terms. More than a dozen council members decided to step down this year, leaving no incumbents on the ballot in Westminster, Villa Park, Buena Park and Cypress.

In cities and school districts where incumbents are not running, election officials extended last Friday’s filing deadline to Wednesday. But this extension caused confusion in Orange, making it unclear whether Councilman Mike Spurgeon’s name will appear on the ballot.

Spurgeon planned to seek reelection but did not file his nomination papers by Friday’s deadline. He said Cassandra Cathcart in the city clerk’s office told him the deadline had been extended and that he had until Wednesday.

But under state election codes, the five-day extension applies only to challengers and not incumbents. Cathcart said Wednesday that she had no choice but to reject Spurgeon’s papers, meaning his name will not appear on the ballot.

Spurgeon, who works as Supervisor William G. Steiner’s chief of staff, vowed a legal fight if necessary to get his name on the ballot.

“My intentions are to run again, that’s very clear,” Spurgeon said. “I think I’ve demonstrated that by raising $16,000 in this last period. . . . I think this will end up having to be adjudicated in court.”

Other candidates are vying for the two open Orange City Council seats. They are: Jim Wronski, Kevin Rice, Adolfo Perez Jr., Barry Besser, Betty Nauer, Juan Pablo Serrano-Nieblas, Jonathan Andrew Dumitru, Steven Frank Ambriz, Michael Alvarez, Bernie W. Dennis and Robert L. Douglas.

One of the hottest races is shaping up in Irvine, where Councilwoman Christina Shea is seeking the mayor’s seat against former Mayor Sally Anne Sheridan. Shea has criticized the large amount of money the city placed in Orange County’s bankruptcy investment pool. She also has clashed at times with other council members.

Sheridan served as mayor from 1990-92. Irvine residents Guy Mailly and Paul Johnson also are running for mayor.

In Westminster, council members Frank G. Fry Jr. and Charmayne S. Bohman are vying for the mayor’s job.

For the first time in 40 years, the election for Fullerton city clerk has drawn more than one candidate. Incumbent Audrey K. Culver will face Stuart Stitch, a local political activist.

In other areas, however, candidates are running uncontested.

In Los Alamitos, only incumbents Charles E. Sylvia and Ronald Bates entered the race for two open seats on the City Council.

Incumbents Chris Brown and Gary Roger Fite are the only candidates running for two seats on the Savanna School District’s board of trustees. In the Fountain Valley School District, incumbent Julie Hoxsie and newcomer Joanne N. Lew are vying for two open seats.

Also contributing to this story were Times correspondents Hope Hamashige, Mimi Ko Cruz, Frank Messina, John Pope, Julie Fate Sullivan and Catherine Werblin.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

School Board Candidates

School board races will take place in 27 districts. The candidates:

ANAHEIM CITY

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Susan Preus, Christopher Whorton

Challengers: Thomas “Hoagy” Holguin, Harald G. Martin, Herlinda Perez Sullivan

ANAHEIM UNION

HIGH SCHOOL

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Robert Stewart, L.E. Terrell

Challengers: Alden E. Esping, Benny Hernandez, Richard Lutz, Katherine H. Smith, Todd E. Kaudy

BREA OLINDA UNIFIED

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Susie D. Sokol, Bernie P. Kilcoyne

Challengers: Dorothy Marie Allen, Denise Keller, Frank C. Murillo

BUENA PARK

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: Lloyd G. Davis

Challengers: Curtis Tengan, Lori Nielsen

CAPISTRANO UNIFIED

Open seats: 4

TRUSTEE AREA 1

Incumbent: Peter J. Espinosa

Challenger: Joseph D. Snyder

TRUSTEE AREA 2

Incumbent: Marlene Draper

Challenger: Don Franklin Richardson

TRUSTEE AREA 3

Incumbent: Mildred Daley Pagelow

Challengers: Cindy Caywood, David T. Leland, John E. Smart

TRUSTEE AREA 5

Incumbent: Shelia Benecke

Challengers: Ralph Riddell, Carmen Vali

CENTRALIA

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: John M. Alvis, Robert Lindsay

Challengers: None

CYPRESS

Open seats: 3 four-year terms, 1 two-year term

Incumbents: Donna McDougall, Donna Erickson, Rick Gaede (appointed to unexpired term)

Challenger: David Giese (running against Gaede for unexpired term)

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: Julie Hoxsie

Challenger: Joanne N. Lew

FULLERTON JOINT

UNION HIGH

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Bill Dunton, Barbara R. Kilponen

Challenger: Clifford P. Berning

FULLERTON

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Karen Chavez, Rosamaria Gomez-Amaro

Challengers: Kim Ann Guth, John Pugh, Hilda Sugarman

GARDEN GROVE UNIFIED

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Lynn Hamtil, Kenneth H. Slimmer

Challengers: Fred Clair, John L. Holm, Fortunato Mabutus, Linda Paulsen, Kerri L. Weisenberger

HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Catherine McGough, Brian E. Rechsteiner

Challenger: Manny Rothstein

HUNTINGTON BEACH

UNION HIGH

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Bonnie Bruce, Michael Simons

Challengers: Leslie Marie Lowman, David Michael Rochman

IRVINE UNIFIED

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Tom Burnham, Michael B. Regele

Challengers: Jeanne S. Flint, Mike House, Howard Klein, Karen J. Preston, Robert Wolf

LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: Jan Vickers

Challengers: Ali Abdolsalehi, El Hathaway, Barbara B. Norton, Steven Rabago, Eileen Walsh

LA HABRA CITY

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Morrison M. Clements, Susan M. Hango

Challenger: Cindy Frisbie Hecklay

LOS ALAMITOS UNIFIED

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Donna Artukovic, Del Clark, Virginia Wilson

Challengers: M. Kent Gregory, Terry Leve, Cathie A. Salai

LOWELL JOINT

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: Richard D. Jones

Challenger: Fred W. Schambeck

MAGNOLIA

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Barbara J. Clendineng, Janel Hangartner

Challenger: Clifford E. Breeden Jr.

NEWPORT MESA UNIFIED

Open seats: 3

TRUSTEE AREA 1

Incumbent: Edward H. Decker

Challenger: Jan Warner

TRUSTEE AREA 3

Incumbent: Martha Fluor

Challenger: None

TRUSTEE AREA 6

Incumbent: Not running

Challengers: Dana Black, Brian Kevin Theriot

OCEAN VIEW

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: None

Challengers: Gordon Busch, Robert Cheek, Peg Edey, Linda Kovach, Jim Peters, Bill Prescott, Tom Shilton

PLACENTIA-YORBA

LINDA UNIFIED

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Judy Miner, Craig Olson

Challengers: Wally Curl, Carol Liberty, Michael Manning, Roseann Thorn, Jan Wagner

SADDLEBACK VALLEY

UNIFIED

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Marcia L. Birch, Debbie Hughes, Frank L. Ury

Challengers: Sandie Franklin Gonzales, David C. Greene, Wayne R. Hogrefe, Don Sedgwick

SANTA ANA UNIFIED

Open seats: 3 four-year terms, 1 two-year term to replace trustee Tom Chaffee (resigned in May)

Incumbents: Rosemarie Avila, Sal Mendoza, Audrey Yamagata-Noji

4-year-term challengers: Helen Fabian, Nativo V. Lopez, Ivan V. McKinney, Virgel Nickell, Debbie Perez Stephens, Wendy C. Tobiska, Jamie B. Vega Rodriquez

2-year-term challengers: Aida Espinoza, Robert B. Hoffman, Debra K. O’Donnell, Nativo V. Lopez

SAVANNA

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Chris Brown, Gary Roger Fite

Challengers: None

TUSTIN UNIFIED

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Todd Ferguson, Gail Michelsen

Challengers: Ann G. Albertson, Tammie Bullard, Ernie Ching, Elsa J. O’Hare, Francine Pace Scinto, Kay M. Weymouth

WESTMINSTER

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Nancy L. Blumenthal, Kathleen Stirling Iverson

Challengers: Leonard Crane, Stephanie Erikson, Chris King, Vivian Kirkpatrick-Pilger, Helena Rutkowski

Source: Registrar of Voters; Researched by LORI HAYCOX / For The Times

Mayor, City Council Candidates

The races for mayor and city council candidates are set for 29 of Orange Conty’s 31 cities. There are no races of either kind in Seal Beach and Tustin. The candidates:

ANAHEIM

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Frank Feldhaus, Tom Tait

Challengers: Lucille Kring, Shirley A. McCracken, Curtis A. Stricker

BREA

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: Bev Perry

Challengers: William Little, Marty Simonoff, Steven Vargas, Patrick Davis, Nancy Wright, Lawrence Wells

BUENA PARK

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: None

Challengers: Larry Barstow, Brian Holland, Paul Gonzales, Jack Mauller, Steven Berry, Tammy D. Steel, Max R. Schulman

COSTA MESA

City Council

Open seats: 3

Incumbent: Joe Erickson

Challengers: Caroline Butler, Libby Cowan, James Fisler, Mel Fleener, Heather Somers, Casey Evans, Lawrence Jones, Robert Graham, Chris Steel

CYPRESS

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: None

Challengers: Stephen T. Blount, Christen Marie Fouty, Leo Friedland, Tim Keenan, Michael McGill, Anna Piercy, Brian Sunley

DANA POINT

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: Bill Ossenmacher

Challengers: Ruby Netzley, Lynn D. Dawson, Robert W. Moore, Kendall Baldwin Flint

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: James D. Petrikin

Challengers: Doug Bannister, Chuck Conlosh, Larry Crandall, Virginia Harter, Mark Matthews, Barry Migliorini, Caesar Ruiz

FULLERTON

City Council

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Chris Norby, Julie Sa

Challengers: Brent Hardwick, F. Richard Jones, Robert E. McNutt, Clifford P. Berning, Richter Claugh, W. Snow Hume, Bruce Whitaker, Barbara Marr

GARDEN GROVE

Mayor

Incumbent: Bruce A. Broadwater

Challengers: Al Snook, Mike Silva, Wayne Sherwood

City Council

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Tony Ingegneri, Ho Chung

Challengers: Ken Maddox, Wayne E. Pedersen, Bob Main, Don Arnston, Robert Wilson, Lee Butterfield

HUNTINGTON BEACH

City Council

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Dave Sullivan, Tom Harman, Victor Leipzig

Challengers: Lou Baker, Thom Doney, Chuck Downing, Michael W. DuBrock, Pamela L. Julien, Kevin S. Koder, Susie Newman, Clint J. Olivier, Roy H. Richardson

IRVINE

Mayor

Incumbent: Christina Shea

Challengers: Sally Anne Sheridan, Guy Mailly, Paul Johnson

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: Mike Ward

Challengers: Kenneth L. Hansen, Dave Christensen, Bruce Peotter

LA HABRA

City Council

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Steven C. Anderson, Juan M. Garcia

Challengers: Merciline La Porte, Audie Contreras, Jeff D. Holley, Jonathan Wiegman, John Holmberg

LA PALMA

City Council

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Duane Schuster, Wally Linn, Eva Miner Bradford

Challengers: Ronald Burford, Alta Duke, Paul Walker

LAGUNA BEACH

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Wayne L. Peterson, Kathleen Blackburn

Challengers: Linda Small Athey, William S. O’Hare, Ronald Harris, Rickey Slater

LAGUNA HILLS

City Council

Number of seats open: 2

Incumbent: Joel T. Lautenschleger

Challengers: Max D. Craig, Joel E. Quisenberry Jr., Daniel R. Ventura, Robert J. Wheeler, Ernie M. Ellsworth, L. Allan Songstad

LAGUNA NIGUEL

City Council

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Tom W. Wilson, Mark Goodman

Challengers: Linda Lindholm, Joe Brown, Mimi Walters, Melvin Thomas, Ron Halpern, Greg Cox, William E. Wood Jr., Randall Aaron Morton

LAKE FOREST

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Helen Wilson, Ann Van Haun

Challengers: Marcia Rudolph, Jim Richert, Ronald G. Nash

LOS ALAMITOS

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Charles E. Sylvia, Ronald Bates

Challengers: None

MISSION VIEJO

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbent: William S. Craycraft

Challengers: Tom Potocki, Larry Gilbert, Lindalee Adams, Jonathan Galaviz, Bradley Morton

NEWPORT BEACH

City Council

Open seats: 3

DISTRICT 2

Incumbent: Janice A. Debay

Challenger: Barry E. Zanck

DISTRICT 5

Incumbent: None

Challengers: Diane Coltrane, John E. Noyes Jr., Ralph Rodheim, Robert Schoonmaker

DISTRICT 7

Incumbent: None

Challengers: Philip L. Arst, Dolores A. Otting, Tom Thomson

ORANGE

Mayor

Incumbent: Joanne Coontz

Challenger: Nick Lall

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: None

Challengers: Jim Wronski, Kevin Rice, Adolfo Perez Jr., Barry Besser, Betty Nauer, Juan Pablo Serrano-Nieblas, Jonathan Andrew Dumitru, Steven Frank Ambriz, Michael Alvarez, Bernie W. Dennis, Robert L. Douglas

PLACENTIA

City Council

Open seats: 3

Incumbents: Maria Moreno, John O. Tynes, Michael L. Maertzweiler

Challengers: Johannes Hoevers, Stephen W. Bradford, James Itow, Charles B. Chamberlain, Constance Underhill

SAN CLEMENTE

City Council

Open seats: 2

Incumbents: Scott Diehl, Candace Haggard

Challengers: Lois Berg, James Dahl

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

City Council