Burbank School Board Seats Go to Abbey, Lenz, Goldwasser

Burbank school board member William (Bill) Abbey was reelected Tuesday, and businesswoman Tomme Lenz and attorney Charles A. Goldwasser also won seats on the five-member board.

Abbey, Lenz and Goldwasser were the top three vote-getters of the six candidates in a runoff election for three vacancies.

Abbey, who has served on the board since October, 1984, is a deputy state attorney general. Lenz has served on many volunteer school committees. Goldwasser is one of the architects of a proposal to restructure the grade-level system to create middle schools for sixth- to eighth-graders, moving ninth-graders into the high schools.

Slightly more than 10% of the city’s 43,215 registered voters cast ballots. The victors attributed the low turnout to the lack of major controversies in the campaign.

“It feels terrific. I just wish more people had gotten out,” said Lenz, who was the top finisher.

Faces $600,000 Cutback

Lenz and Abbey said the board would make it a priority to secure more state money for the district, which expects to lose $600,000 because of state cutbacks.

“We’re going to have to start right away, and it’s going to be a 24-hour job to try to get more money,” Lenz said.

The board is facing a decision on the proposal to restructure the junior and senior high schools. The plan would close some schools, which all the candidates opposed. The board also must decide on a replacement for retiring school Supt. Wayne Boulding.

Finishing behind the three victors were school administrator Walton L. Ragan, businessman Dwain F. Bender and housewife Marilyn H. Paggi.

The campaign for the three seats was quiet.

The only ripple in an otherwise calm campaign came after the February primary when Paggi, who had announced about two weeks before the election that she was withdrawing from the race, finished fifth out of eight candidates. City officials said Paggi withdrew too late to have her name removed from the ballot.

Paggi endorsed Goldwasser in the runoff.

Election Results Tuesday Results Burbank SCHOOL BOARD Runoff 3 vacancies 49 of 49 precincts FINAL

Vote *% Tomme Lenz* 2,847 62.9 William S. Abbey (Inc.)* 2,618 57.9 Charles A. Goldwasser* 2,108 46.0 Walton L. Ragan 1,917 42.0 Dwain F. Bender 1,257 27.8 Marilyn H. Paggi (withdrew) 570 12.0

* Adds up to more than 100% because voters could vote for up to three candidates. Voter turnout 10.45% (Inc.) designates incumbent. Winners in bold type and asterisk (*) after name.