LOS ANGELES – Two leading Los Angeles school board candidates are facing campaign challenges as outside groups spend heavily to influence the upcoming election for seats on the city’s Board of Education. Four seats are up for grabs, with the top two candidates in each contest advancing to the November ballot.
Kahllid Al-Alim, running for the District 1 seat, has come under fire for retweeting antisemitic content on social media. Meanwhile, Graciela Ortiz, running in District 5, was temporarily removed from her counseling job pending an investigation related to a civil lawsuit involving a campaign worker.
Outside groups, including political action committees supporting both charter schools and teachers unions, have poured over $5.1 million into the races, significantly outspending the candidates themselves.
The race in District 1 has become more complicated due to Al-Alim’s social media activity, but he remains a strong contender due to support from a teachers union, despite calls for his withdrawal from the campaign by some opponents.
In District 3, incumbent Scott Schmerelson and challenger Dan Chang are the top contenders, with both receiving significant financial backing from opposing PACs.
In District 5, the race has become a showdown between two unions, with teacher Karla Ortiz receiving support from UTLA.
As the election approaches, candidates are scrambling to differentiate themselves and court voters in a highly competitive and financially influenced environment. The outcome of these races could have a significant impact on the future direction of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
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