Gil Anthony Duarte picked for the Hacienda La Puente Unified school board

Gil Anthony Duarte, a member of the La Puente
Planning Commission, was chosen as the newest board member of the
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District last week.

Duarte will fill the unexpired term of Anita Perez, 74, who stepped
down effective July 2 after serving 19 years on the five-member school
board.

He will be eligible to run for his seat in November 2013.

The La Puente Planning Commissioner and aide to Rep. Judy Chu, D-El
Monte, was chosen Thursday night over more well-known candidates. Gloria
Alderette, 63, the third-highest vote-getter in last November school
board election and a former district principal, was nominated by board
member Rudy Chavarria but did not get any more support. Henry Gonzales, a
local businessman who has run unsuccessfully for school board several
times, was nominated by board member Gino Kwok but only received two
votes.

Read more in Steve Scauzillo’s story DUARTE.