LAUSD 3: Schmerelson Retains Lead

CHATSWORTH, CA — Incumbent Scott Schmerelson has taken a 54-46 percent lead against challenger Marilyn Koziatek in the race to represent LAUSD District Board 3, which runs through the West Valley, and is sandwiched roughly in between the 405, the 101, and the Ventura County border.

As of Thursday night, Schmerelson counted 123,916 votes to Koziatek's 105,830. Both candidates have gained about 10,000 new votes since counting began Tuesday, but their percentages remain the same.

A winner will not officially be certified by Los Angeles County until Nov. 30.

Schmerelson, 69, of Valley Glen, is a former LAUSD teacher and principal who lists ensuring a safe reopening plan (but feels there are too many outstanding questions to reopen safely at the moment) widespread access to coronavirus testing for students and staff, reducing class sizes, and ensuring support — from private tutoring to free meals — for vulnerable students. He voted against cutting the Los Angeles School Police budget, but told LAist that he supports an LAUSD formula to redistribute money from wealthier to poorer schools.

Koziatek, 39, of Chatsworth, is the special projects and events manager at Granada Hills Charter High School, and is the only candidate in the 2020 LAUSD race with children enrolled in the district. She also claims to be the only candidate working for the LAUSD, but Granada Hills Charter High School is in fact a charter school independent from the district. Koziatek says she is in favor of greater budget transparency, obtaining more technology and redistributing funds for needier schools, and creating a curriculum that ensures higher graduation rates. She advocated debate on the issue of school police, but declined to support the board's decision to cut LASPD budget by 35 percent this summer.

The outcome of the race has the potential to tip the board in favor of charter schools, and Schmerelson was targeted by millions of dollars of negative ads and mailers funded by charter school groups. In February, a mailer included what some described as anti-Semitic imagery of Schmerelson, who is Jewish, wearing a gold dollar-sign chain and holding a cigar and a fistful of cash. Others falsely claimed that Schmerelson voted to triple his salary, and improperly earned a pension and a board salary. He does receive both, but this is not unusual or against the rules, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

SCROLL TO FIND RESULTS for this race in real-time below (They are sorted alphabetically by city.)

Can't see the widget? Click here for all Los Angeles County election results. Be sure to refresh this page for the latest.

Stay updated with the latest election results and news in California. Sign up for free real-time alerts and daily newsletters from Patch.