One of the four candidates running for the Westside Los Angeles Unified board seat did not file enough voter signatures to qualify for the ballot.
It's Ben Austin, head of the Green Dot-affiliated Los Angeles Parents Union, who has been thought to be Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's candidate in the race and a serious contender for the seat.
Austin has insufficient signatures, according to a list that was updated Monday at 5 p.m. by the L.A. City Clerk's office. (See "nominating petition filing list" in left column.)
Candidates need between 500 and 1,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot if they pay a fee of $300. They can avoid the fee if they file between 1,000 and 2,000 signatures.
Incidentially, Austin was the subject of a Sunday Steve Lopez column in the Los Angeles Times that focused in part on Superintendent David Brewer's cushy expense account.
A former deputy mayor to Richard Riordan, Austin was an advisor to Rob Reiner when the actor sat on the First 5 commission.
Fairfax High teacher Mike Stryer, thought to be the UTLA candidate*, and Steve Zimmer, a Marshall High teacher with an activist background, have both qualified for the March contest.
Bill Ring, a parent activist and former chairman of LAUSD's Parent Collaborative, filed a nominating petition but has not yet been listed by the city as qualified.
Here's a little bit more info on these four.
*Foiled again! Actually, it turns out UTLA endorsed its other member in the race, Steve Zimmer. The union's PAC interviewed both candidates and recommended Zimmer to the 300-member house of representatives, who voted to go with him, according to Kim Turner at UTLA.
Turner also said the union didn't endorse in the District 2 race (in which Board President Monica Garcia is the only candidate). They went with San Fernando Mayor Nury Martinez in the District 6 race.
Also, there's some more info on Austin's filing situation in today's L.A. Times.
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