(Jan. 25, 2008) -- As previously reported on LBReport.com's front page (www.lbreport.com) earlier this week, the Teachers Ass'n of Long Beach (TALB) has endorsed challengers to both incumbent LB School Board members seeking reelection in April 2008.

In the sprawling southeast Long Beach School Board district 4, TALB is endorsing Paul Crost against School Board member Jon Meyer.

Mr. Crost is an attorney specializing in labor and employment law, mediation and other discrimination law, representing employees and their unions.

It's a three-way race, with Karen Hilburn also challenging Boardmember Meyer. Ms. Hilburn has been a teacher, a high school principal and a district level LBUSD administrator and is recently retired.

In the central/WLB School Board district 2, TALB is endorsing teacher Rosa Diaz in a one-on-one challenge to incumbent Dr. Felton Williams.

At stake in the April election is majority control of the LB School Board, and thus de facto control of the LB Unified School District.

TALB, currently operating under a trusteeship run by the CA Teachers Ass'n, could gain a school board majority by unseating even one school board incumbent.

LBUSD's governing School Board is currently split 3-2...with two boardmembers (Dr. David Barton and Michael Ellis) elected in 2006 with the support of the Teachers Association of LB (representing LB schoolteachers).

At the same time, the LB Area Chamber of Commerce has launched a recall against incumbent boardmember Michael Ellis, who was elected with TALB's support. The outcome of that process is a wildcard...since even if voters recall (remove) Ellis, his replacement may or may or may not be a candidate backed by the recall proponents; it could be a TALB-backed candidate (if they back one) or an independent.

The high stakes outcome has created unusual political alignments...with some major unions and local Dems supporting incumbents while TALB is backing challengers.

In addition, the southeast LB School Board race features an independent, Karen Hilburn, who has been both a teacher, a high school principal and a district level LBUSD administrator and is challenging incumbent Jon Meyer.

The LB Police Officers Ass'n and LB Firefighters Ass'n have endorsed incumbents Williams and Meyer.

Several local Dems have endorsed Williams, including State Senator Alan Lowenthal (D., LB-Lakewood-Paramount), Assemblywoman Betty Karnette (D., LB) and former LB Mayor Beverly O'Neill...along with another union, Classified Staff Employees Ass'n. which represents LBUSD's classified staff employees. Williams is also endorsed by Repub L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe and retired LB Mayor (now LBCC Trustee) Dr. Tom Clark.

In 2006, TALB sought a School Board majority by running a slate of three candidates. TALB-backed Ellis was elected, virtually without opposition, when then-incumbent School Board President Dr. Suja Lowenthal abandoned the race to seek the 2nd district City Council seat vacated by the abrupt resignation of Dan Baker. TALB-backed Barton unseated an ELB incumbent. School Board incumbent Mary Stanton narrowly defeated a TALB-backed challenger.