Here you’ll find the candidates running for the 2015 election in L.A. County.

Before your read about the recommendations, please take a minute to understand how the rating system works.

Rating System Explained

•  3 Thumbs Up = strongest endorsement for values voters
•  2 Thumbs Up = above average
•  1 Thumb Up = better than opponent. Some races are between candidates that you will disagree with. You may not want to vote for any of them, but at least a 1 star makes one candidate as better than the other. It’s the lesser of the two evils. 1 star is not really an endorsement.
• 0 Thumbs Up = no endorsement: We either oppose the candidates or have found no reason to support a candidate. If you don’t vote for a candidate or issue, all your other votes you make for other offices still count.

Agoura Hills

Council Member; City of Agoura Hills

• Illece Buckley Weber
• Meril S. Platzer
• Chris Anstead
• Linda L. Northrup
• John O’Meara
• Jan Gerstel 

Azusa

Governing Board Member; Azusa Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Russell Bryan Rentschler 
• Jeri Bibles-Vogel
• Thomas Stephen Sanchez
• Yolanda Rodriguez-Pena
• Ralph Frank Rodriguez

Baldwin Park

Mayor; City of Baldwin Park

• Joe Armendariz 
• Cruz Baca
• Manuel Lozano

Council Member; City of Baldwin Park (2 Elected)

• Daniel “Danny” Damian
• Roman Rodriguez 
• Monica Garcia 
• Ricardo Pacheco

Governing Board Member; Baldwin Park Unified School District (3 Elected)

• Santos Hernandez 
• Christina Lucero
• Saul R. Barrientos 
• Deanna Coronado Robles
• Edwin Borques
• Blanca E. Rubio

Bellflower

Governing Board Member; Bellflower Unified School District (2 Elected)

• John Hugo Coleman 
• Jerry L. Cleveland
• Ole Nervik
• Debra “Debbie” Cuadros

Beverly Hills

Governing Board Member; Beverly Hills Unified School District (3 Elected)

• Mel Spitz
• Carter C. Paysinger
• Isabel Hacker 
• Noah Margo 
• Lewis C. Hall

Calabasas

Council Member; City of Calabasas (2 Elected)

• Steve Roseman
• Fred Gaines 
• Alicia Weintraub 

Governing Board Member; Las Virgenes Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Linda Menges
• Mathy Wasserman
• Gary L. Mittin 

NO:

Measure E School Funding — Las Virgenes Unified School District (Special Tax – 2/3 Approval Required)

To protect the quality of education in our local schools, fund core programs in math, science, reading, technology and the arts, attract/retain highly qualified teachers, counselors, and technology specialists, maintain smaller class sizes, enhance student achievement and prepare our students for success in college and careers, shall Las Virgenes Unified School District continue for twelve years the existing $98 annual school parcel tax without raising the current rate, with an exemption for seniors, and all money staying local?

Cerritos

Governing Board Member; ABC Unified School District; Trustee Area 1

• Greg R. Uttecht 
• Letty Mendoza

Governing Board Member; ABC Unified School District; Trustee Area 4

• Maynard G. Law 
• Latha Vasan

Governing Board Member; ABC Unified School District; Trustee Area 5

• Hugo Enciso
• Sophia M. Tse 

Governing Board Member; ABC Unified School District; Trustee Area 7

• Silvestre Vasquez
• Christopher T. Apodaca

Claremont

NO:

Measure PS Adopting A Special Parcel Tax for Public Safety Facility — City of Claremont (Parcel Tax – 2/3 Approval Required)

Shall the Claremont City Council adopt the ordinance levying a new special parcel tax of $286.00 per parcel per year commencing on July 1, 2016 and ending on June 30, 2056, for the purpose of funding the site acquisition, design, construction and furnishing of a new public safety facility?

Compton

Governing Board Member; Compton Unified School District (3 Elected)

• Arturo D. Frazier
• Richard Michael Alatorre
• Sandra F. Moss
• Skyy D. Fisher 
• Justine Michelle Landeros
• Francisco J. Orozco
• Gregory Pitts
• Diana Padilla 
• Denzell Otis Perry
• Micah Ali
• Janette Mora
• Jolena Lomax
• Omar C. Spry
• Kim Smith
• Barbara Jean Calhoun
• Charles Davis
• Lizette Lucha Arévalo
• Carol “Ann Bradley” Jordan
• Maria Hechavarria
• Jerry Randle

NO:

Measure S School Funding — Compton Unified School District (School Bonds – 55% Approval Required)

To make schools safe and modern, and to inspire learning; shall the Compton Unified School District issue $350,000,000 in bonds at legal rates to construct and renovate local schools, sites, and facilities, including research libraries, modern classrooms and science labs, media and performing arts centers, technology centers and athletic complexes; repair safety hazards and security systems; replace worn-out roofs, plumbing, heating, electrical, and other systems; with mandatory audits, independent citizen oversight, no money for administrator salaries, and all funds staying local?

Covina

Governing Board Member; Covina Valley Unified School District (3 Elected)

• Alice Suzuki 
• William L. Knoll
• Sue L. Maulucci
• Darrell Alan Myrick 
• Sonia Frasquillo 
• Kien Lam

Culver City

Governing Board Member; Culver City Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Kelly Kent
• Anne Allaire Burke
• Scott McVarish 

Diamond Bar

Council Member; City of Diamond Bar (2 Elected)

• Robert “Bob” Velker
• Robert Nishimura
• Ruth Low  
• Carol Herrera  

Downey

Governing Board Member; Downey Unified School District; Trustee Area 3

• Claudia Medina
• Willie Gutierrez 

Governing Board Member; Downey Unified School District; Trustee Area 4

• Donald E. La Plante
• Linda Salomon Saldana 
• Maria Avalos

Governing Board Member; Downey Unified School District; Trustee Area 6

• Vanessa Rodriguez 
• D. Mark Morris

Duarte

Governing Board Member; Duarte Unified School District (3 Elected)

• Lillian Rose Cabral
• Tom N. Reyes
• Lupe Valerio
• Douglas Guthery Edwards
• James “Jim” Dinsmore 
• Cheryl Taylor
• Robert N. Jole

El Monte

Mayor; City of El Monte

• Andre Quintero
• Norma Macias

Council Member; City of El Monte (2 Elected)

• Jerry Velasco
• Victoria “Vicky” Martinez
• Art Barrios
• Bart Patel

Governing Board Member; El Monte City School District (2 Elected)

• Jennifer Cobian
• Cathi A. Eredia
• Julia Ruedas 
• David S. Siegrist 

Governing Board Member; El Monte Union High School District (2 Elected)

• Carlos G. Salcedo
• Gracie H. Retamoza 
• Maria “Villalobos” Morgan
• Salvador Ramirez

Governing Board Member; Mountain View Elementary School District (2 Elected)

• Jacqueline Saldana
• Christian Diaz
• Irma L. Zamorano
• Blanca M. Figueroa
• Alfonso Somilleda

El Segundo

Governing Board Member; El Segundo Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Chris J. Powell 
• Nancy L. Cobb
• Jeanie M. Nishime 

Glendora

Governing Board Member; Glendora Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Linda A. Chan
• Lisa “Lee” Ross 
• Robin G. Merkley
• Maura E. Murabito
• Linda Boyd 

Governing Board Member; Citrus Community College District; Trustee Area 5

• Gary L. Woods
• Joanne Montgomery 

Hawaiian Gardens

Council Member; City of Hawaiian Gardens (2 Elected)

• Teresa Macias 
• Hank Trimble 
• Victor Farfan
• Myra Maravilla

Hawthorne

Mayor; City of Hawthorne

• Analilia Joya
• Angie Reyes English
• Chris Brown
• Alex Vargas 

Council Member; City of Hawthorne (2 Elected)

• L. David Patterson
• Frances Stiglich
• Amie Shepard
• Osvaldo Ramirez
• Haidar Awad
• Nilo Michelin
• Katrina Manning
• Olivia Valentine

Governing Board Member; Lennox Elementary School District (2 Elected)

• V. Mercedes Ibarra
• Angela C. Fajardo 
• Marisol Cruz
• Enio Augusto Melgar 

Hermosa Beach

Council Member; City of Hermosa Beach (2 Elected)

• Trent Larson 
• Jeff Duclos
• Peter C. Tucker
• Justin Massey
• Kenneth A. Hartley 

City Clerk; City of Hermosa Beach

• Elaine C. Doerfling

Treasurer; City of Hermosa Beach

• Karen S. Nowicki

Governing Board Member; Hermosa Beach City School District (2 Elected)

• Monique Ehsan
• James Scott
• Lisa R. Claypoole 
• Patti S. Ackerman 

NO:

Measure H Hotel Tax Incease — City of Hermosa Beach (Ordinance – Majority Approval Required)

Shall an ordinance be adopted that would increase the Hermosa Beach transient occupancy tax (hotel bed tax) from 10 percent to 12 percent of room revenue?

Industry

Governing Board Member; Bassett Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Aaron “Simental” Rodriguez
• Patrice Stanzione 
• Armando Barajas
• Natalie Marie Ybarra

Governing Board Member; Hacienda La Puente Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Gino M. Kwok 
• Jeffrey De La Torre 
• Denny Guido
• Herbert S. Chin
• Klaus Peter Hornell
• Martin Medrano

Irwindale

Council Member; City of Irwindale (3 Elected)

• Mark A. Breceda 
• Frederick S. Barbosa
• Larry G. Burrola 
• Manuel R. Garcia 
• Carmen Marie Roman

Lancaster

Governing Board Member; Antelope Valley Community College District (2 Elected)

• Jack D. Seefus 
• Laura U. Herman
• Miguel A. Coronado
• Lew Stults 

Governing Board Member; Antelope Valley Joint Union High School District (2 Elected)

• Donita J. Winn
• Jill McGrady
• Amaka Eugenia Donn
• Robert “Bob” Davis 

Governing Board Member; Eastside Union Elementary School District; Trustee Area 4

• Joseph “Joe” Pincetich 
• David Owens 

Governing Board Member; Lancaster School District; Trustee Area 1

• Susan L. Corso
• George Chris Zelazo 
• Keith Giles
• Cheryl D. Gayfield
• Debra M. Cook-Lewis
• Merle “Mel” Kleven 

Governing Board Member; Lancaster School District; Trustee Area 3

• Shannon Renee McDonald
• Gregory A. Tepe 
• Antoine Hawkins
• Chuck Simons
• William R. Buck

Lawndale

Governing Board Member; Centinela Valley Union High School District; Trustee Area 3

• Lorena L. Gonzalez
• Daniel Urrutia 

Governing Board Member; Centinela Valley Union High School District; Trustee Area 4

• Gloria A. Ramos 
• Vanessa Martinez

Lynwood

City Clerk; City of Lynwood

• Maria “Lulu” Quinonez
• Andrew Nuñez

Treasurer; City of Lynwood

• Denise Rodriguez 
• Nicolas Sanchez
• Antoinette “Toni” Dixon
• Gabriela Camacho
• Iris Pygatt

Council Member; City of Lynwood (2 Elected)

• Rebecca “Becky” Castro 
• Domitila “Tila” Aguilar
• Salvador Alatorre 
• AidÉ Castro
• Omar Espinoza
• Edwin R. Jacinto

Governing Board Member; Lynwood Unified School District (3 Elected)

• Gary Hardie, Jr.
• Linda M. George
• Briseida Gonzalez
• Gloria Garcia 
• Maria Guadalupe Lopez

Malibu

YES:

Measure W Construction of a Commercial Shopping Center — City of Malibu (Ordinance – Majority Approval Required)

Shall an ordinance be adopted approving the Civic Center-Northeast Specific Plan for property located at the northwest corner of Cross Creek and Civic Center Way that regulates development and limits uses to allow construction of a commercial shopping center up to 38,425 square feet, proposed to include a grocery store, retail and recreational/educational uses?

Maywood

City Clerk; City of Maywood

• Gerardo “Gerry” Mayagoitia

Treasurer; City of Maywood

• Salvador Contreras
• Gloria Viramontes

Council Member; City of Maywood (2 Elected)

• Oscar Magaña
• Sergio Joseph Calderon 
• Ramon Medina 
• Veronica Guardado

Montebello

Council Member; City of Montebello (2 Elected)

• Fernando Chacon 
• Christina Cortez
• Vanessa Delgado 
• Kimberly Ann Cobos
• Bill Paolisso
• Jack Hadjinian
• Michael W. Samarin-Popoff
• Randy Smith

City Clerk; City of Montebello

• Christina Gonzales
• Annette Ramirez 
• Irma Barajas

Treasurer; City of Montebello

• Ashod Mooradian
• Rosemarie “Rosie” Vasquez 
• Charles Pell

Governing Board Member; Montebello Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Edgar Cisneros
• Nancy Hernandez 
• Joanna Flores
• David Vela

Norwalk

Governing Board Member; Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District (3 Elected)

• Jesus G. Urquidi
• Karen Morrison 
• Chris Pflanzer 
• Victor Juan

Palmdale

Governing Board Member; Keppel Union Elementary School District (2 Elected)

• Evelyn L. Hall
• Dominique M. Ballante 
• Vance D. Pomeroy
• Georgia Halliman 
• Matthew Todd Gaines

Governing Board Member; Palmdale School District (2 Elected)

• Dave Markov
• Robert “Bo” Bynum
• Dennis M. Trujillo 
• Vajezatha Zaccai Payne
• Sharon A. Vega 

Pasadena

Governing Board Member; Pasadena Area Community College District; Trustee Area 2

• Martin Enriques
• James A. Osterling 
• Tom Selinske

Governing Board Member; Pasadena Area Community College District; Trustee Area 4

• Hoyt R. Hilsman
• Bill Thomson
• Marshall Lewis 

Pico Rivera

Council Member; City of Pico Rivera (3 Elected)

• Joey Arnold Moreno 
• Gregory Salcido 
• Bob J. Archuleta
• Brent A. Tercero

Governing Board Member; El Rancho Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Arlene Perez 
• Alfred Renteria
• Victor “Coach” Gonzalez
• Raul Elias
• Gabriel Orosco
• Teresa Lugo Merino 

Rancho Palos Verdes

Council Member; City of Rancho Palos Verdes (3 Elected)

• Jim Knight
• Greg Royston 
• Jerry Duhovic 
• Ken Dyda 
• Susan Brooks 

Governing Board Member; Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Dawn Lenzie
• Linda Reid
• Barry Andrew Rondinella 
• Suzanne Seymour 

Rolling Hills Estates

Council Member; City of Rolling Hills Estates (3 Elected)

• Velveth Schmitz
• Frank V. Zerunyan 
• Judy Mitchell
• Carl Southwell 

Rosemead

Governing Board Member; Garvey Elementary School District (2 Elected)

• Angela Marie Rios
• Henry Lo
• Keilley Meng 

Governing Board Member; Rosemead Elementary School District

• Nancy Armenta
• Mary Jo Merenda

Rowland Heights

Governing Board Member; Rowland Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Susan Hsu
• Judy Nieh
• David M. Malkin
• Roy L. Humphreys
• Donna Freedman 

San Marino

Council Member; City of San Marino (2 Elected)

• Scott T. Kwong
• Steven Huang
• Steve Talt
• Eugene C. Sun
• Dennis B. Kneier

NO:

Measure U Utility User Tax — City of San Marino (Ordinance – Majority Approval Required)

Shall an ordinance be adopted to update and extend for a period of ten years the Utility User Tax and reduce the maximum rate of the tax from 6% to 5%?

NO:

Measure SA Paramedic Services, Fire Protection, and Police Protection — City of San Marino (Special Tax – 2/3 Approval Required)

Shall an ordinance be adopted to continue a Special Public Safety Tax for Paramedic Services, Fire Protection and Prevention and Police Protection in the City of San Marino?

Santa Clarita

Governing Board Member; William S. Hart Union High School District; Trustee Area 1

• Gloria Mercado-Fortine
• Linda Storli 

Governing Board Member; William S. Hart Union High School District; Trustee Area 4

• Steven M. Sturgeon
• Andrew Taban

Santa Fe Springs

Council Member; City of Santa Fe Springs (2 Elected)

• Nancy Romo 
• Albert “A. J.” Hayes 
• Louie Gonzalez
• Joe Angel Zamora
• Ron Beilke
• Bill Rounds
• John M. Mora
• Carlos Tovar
• Edward Madrid, III
• Annette Rodriguez

Governing Board Member; Little Lake City School District (3 Elected)

• Janet E. Rock 
• Dora Sandoval
• Lynn Berg
• Richard A. Martinez

South El Monte

Mayor; City of South El Monte

• Luis “Louie” Aguiñaga

Council Member; City of South El Monte (2 Elected)

• Willhans Ili
• Manuel “Manny” Acosta 
• Gloria Olmos 
• Hector Delgado
• Gilbert “Gil” Zepeda

Governing Board Member; Valle Lindo Elementary School District (2 Elected)

• Ruth E. Gonzales
• Veronica Castillo 
• Richard Angel 

South Pasadena

Council Member; City of South Pasadena (3 Elected)

• Richard D. Schneider
• Marina Khubesrian
• Robert Joe

Governing Board Member; South Pasadena Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Jon Primuth 
• Joseph Loo 
• Suzie Abajian

Temple City

Governing Board Member; Temple City Unified School District (3 Elected)

• Kien C. Tiet 
• Robert “Bob” Ridley
• Kenneth E. Knollenberg 
• Manuel A. Gimenez, Jr.
• Larry A. Marston

Torrance

Governing Board Member; Torrance Unified School District (2 Elected)

• Don Lee 
• G. Rick Marshall 
• Terry L. Ragins
• Clint Andrew Paulson 

Walnut

Governing Board Member; Mount San Antonio Community College District; Trustee Area 1

• Rosanne M. Bader 
• John Mendoza

NO:

Measure O Walnut Valley Local School Improvement Measure — Walnut Valley Unified School District (School Bonds – 55% Approval Required)

To upgrade facilities to maintain excellent education/college readiness by providing facilities/technology for advanced math, science, engineering, upgrading outdated classrooms, science labs, libraries, computer systems, improving school safety/security, and repairing, constructing/acquiring classrooms, facilities, equipment, shall Walnut Valley Unified School District issue $208 million in bonds at legal rates, with independent citizen oversight, no money for administrator salaries, and all funds used for neighborhood schools in/around Diamond Bar and Walnut?

Governing Board Member; Mount San Antonio Community College District; Trustee Area 5

• Renee “Lucy” Chavez
• Jay Chen
• Garrett C. Terrones
• Frederick “Fred” Chyr 

Governing Board Member; Walnut Valley Unified School District (2 Elected)

• S. Sean Monemi
• Larry L. Redinger 
• Phillip Chen 

West Covina

Council Member; City of West Covina (2 Elected)

• Tony Wu
• Kimberly Caceres
• Joe Lara-Gardner 
• Fredrick Sykes
• Brian A. Gutierrez
• Lloyd A. Johnson

Governing Board Member; West Covina Unified School District (3 Elected)

• Brenda I. Martinez
• Eric Pinal 
• Daniel C. Monárrez
• Camie Poulos 
• Suzanne C. Augino 
• Michael T. Flowers

YES:

Measure C Appointment of City Officials — City of West Covina (Ordinance – Majority Approval Required)

Shall Ordinance No. 2279 be approved to amend the city’s municipal code to eliminate illegal qualification requirements, require professional recruitment for the city manager, require that hiring and retention of the city manager be based on skills and experience, eliminate requirement that interim city manager be selected only from department heads, eliminate most restrictions on removal of the city manager, and provide that any appointment which violates state or local law is null and void?

Westlake Village

Council Member; City of Westlake Village (2 Elected)

• William Kehaly
• Ned E. Davis
• Kelly Honig

Whittier

Governing Board Member; Los Nietos School District (2 Elected)

• Nicholas Vincent Aquino
• John H. Guzman
• Emilio Sosa

Governing Board Member; Rio Hondo Community College District; Trustee Area 2

• Vicky Santana
• Lorraine De La O 

Governing Board Member; South Whittier Elementary School District (2 Elected)

• Jan Baird
• Sharon Luzerne Stys 
• Elias Alvarado

Special Districts

Governing Board Member; Newhall County Water District (2 elected)

• Daniel R. Mortensen 
• Lynne Plambeck
• Jeff Ford
• Don Cruikshank

Governing Board Member; Orchard Dale Water District (2 elected)

• Yvette Stevenson Rodriguez
• Dennis R. Azevedo 
• Loyd G. Timm 

Governing Board Member; Palmdale Water District; Division 3

• Gloria A. Dizmang
• Marco Henriquez 

Governing Board Member; Pico Water District (2 elected)

• Raul Murga
• David Raul Gonzales
• Henrietta Correa Salazar 
• Michael Barba
• Barbara Contreras Rapisarda
• Adrian Lamont Diaz 

Governing Board Member; Quartz Hill Water District (2 elected)

• Keith Michael Scott
• Michael G. Schafer, Jr. 
• Sheldon A. Carter
• Christ L. Gross
• Dennis J. Hoffmeyer

Governing Board Member; San Gabriel County Water District (2 elected)

• Larry G. Taylor
• Lawrence Marsey Zavala
• Mary Cammarano
• Piper Fogle 

Governing Board Member; Sativa-Los Angeles County Water District (3 elected)

• Efren Haas 
• Vanessa “Vj” Hamilton 
• Luis “Louie” Landeros
• Juan “Johnnie” Aguilar 
• Roxsana Zepeda
• Jose M. Torres
• Billy Richie Reyes