Anaheim City School District Board Race

Five candidates, including two incumbents, are vying for two open spaces on the district’s board of trustees. The district and the contenders at a glance:

The District

Boundaries: Downtown area, portions of east and west Anaheim.

Enrollment: 19,500, kindergarten through the sixth grade.

Facilities: 22 elementary schools, 16 of which operate year- round

Board members: Five

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The Candidates

Thomas “Hoagy” Holguin

Age: 43

Occupation: Business owner

Background: Member, Anaheim Community Redevelopment Commission; chairman, Anaheim Community Development Advisory Board; vice chairman, Anaheim Police Officers Honorary Assn.

Major issues: Increasing involvement of parents, business and city officials to provide options such a mentorship programs; supporting programs that give children working knowledge of English; reducing class size to provide more teacher contact.

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Harald G. Martin

Age: 42

Occupation: Police officer

Background: Trustee, Anaheim Union High School District Board; board member, North Orange County Regional Occupational Program.

Major issues: Presenting all instruction in English; returning to fact- based education system as opposed to “politically correct and feel-good education”; increasing accountability to ensure children have means to succeed in subsequent grades.

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Herlinda Perez-Sullivan

Age: 68

Occupation: Retired researcher

Background: Research associate, UC Irvine Medical School; former owner, Fertility Center of California; former member, Santa Ana Human Relations Commission

Major issues: Increasing accountability for spending school district funds; improving teacher hiring standards; boosting parent participation in education.

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Susan Preus

Age: 41

Occupation: Homemaker, former teacher

Background: Incumbent; president, Anaheim Elementary PTA Council; member, Policy and Curriculum development committees, Anaheim City School District; member, Instructional Materials Review Committee, Anaheim Union High School District.

Major issues: Maintaining basic skills instruction, including phonics, English proficiency and technology; educating all children; maintaining strong, consistent discipline.

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Christopher B. Whorton

Age: 54

Occupation: Business consultant

Background: Incumbent; member, Anaheim Parks and Recreation Commission; former Anaheim Gang Drug Task Force, Anaheim Community Development Advisory Board; chairman, Ahwahnee District, Boy Scouts.

Major issues: Supporting high academic standards in basic subjects, technology and English proficiency; hiring the most qualified teachers and providing ongoing professional development; ensuring clean, safe schools and effective classroom discipline.

Source: Individual candidates; researched by DEBRA CANO / For The Times