July 29, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Special election to be held today to fill LAUSD Board of Education seat

 

The seat was left  left vacant by the death of Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte in December. (Thinkstock)
The seat was left left vacant by the
death of Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte in December. (Thinkstock)

A special election will be held today to fill the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education seat left vacant by the death of Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte in December.

Retired LAUSD administrator George McKenna and county supervisor aide Alex Johnson topped a seven-candidate field in June, but because no candidate received a majority, a runoff was needed in the district, which includes south and southwest Los Angeles, Cheviot Hills, Hancock Park, Windsor Hills and parts of Gardena.

LaMotte died Dec. 5 while attending an education conference in San Diego. She was 80.

McKenna finished first in the June primary in District 1 with nearly 45 percent of the vote. He was touted highly by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, when the school board was considering appointing a replacement for LaMotte.

McKenna’s work to curb gang violence at Washington Preparatory High School was the subject of a 1986 made-for-TV movie starring Denzel Washington.

Since the June election, McKenna received endorsements from the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, four of five former competing candidates and the Los Angeles School Police Officers Association.

Johnson, who received 24 percent of the vote, is an aide to Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. Ridley-Thomas’ backing of Johnson helped fuel much debate during board consideration of an appointed replacement for LaMotte, with Ridley-Thomas and Waters butting heads over their support of competing candidates. Johnson previously worked with the Department of Education in New York City.

Johnson has been endorsed by former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs and the Planned Parenthood Los Angeles PAC.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Related Posts

Second Grenade Still Missing After Blast That Killed Three LA Sheriff’s Detectives

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Only One Grenade Exploded; The Second Device Has Vanished Authorities said Friday that one of two grenades recovered last week...

More Than $50 Billion in Damage: What January’s Wildfire Cost the City of Los Angeles

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

Nearly 11,000 Properties, Many in Pacific Palisades, Affected; True Losses Likely Higher Nearly $52 billion in residential real estate across...

Mid-Century Hotel Near LAX to Become Hundreds of Affordable Apartments

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

Project Will Turn Hotel Into Income-Restricted Apartments Near Transit Hub Plans are moving forward to convert the shuttered Four Points...

(Video) A Plus Tree: A Steward of Urban Forest Management Across Los Angeles

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

For More Information, Go to Aplustree.com A Plus Tree: A Steward of Urban Forest Management Across Los Angeles For More...

Residents Paint DIY Crosswalks Around West LA Park to Slow Speeding Drivers

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

Neighbors Say Safety Comes First, But City Crews Remove Safety Feature Fed up with what they call years of city...

The Third Place Reinvented: Why Kavahana Is Becoming LA’s New Favorite Hangout Spot

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

In a city full of coffee shops that close too early and bars that don’t cater to the sober (or...

Avocet Playa Vista: Your New Luxury Retirement Experience

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

A wealth of high-end amenities, gourmet cuisine, mind-body programs and stimulating cultural events, centered around a luxury lifestyle retirement experience...

LAPD to Conduct DUI Checkpoints Across City This Weekend

July 26, 2025

July 26, 2025

LAPD officials said checkpoint locations are chosen based on areas with high numbers of DUI-related crashes and arrests The Los...

Metro D Line Resumes Today After 70-Day Closure

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

The shutdown, which began May 17, enabled Metro to connect the current line to newly built tunnels extending west under...

TODAY: Venice Artbeat Celebrates Community and Supports Local Causes

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

The event offers live music, dance performances, live art, food, and storytelling Venice Artbeat, a community-focused festival, takes place on...

Sunset Jazz & Pizza Series Returns to The Lobster

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

The series blends jazz from a three-piece house band with handcrafted pizzas and $5 Open Brewing beers  The Lobster’s popular...

Los Angeles Marks Milestone in Youth Sports Enrollment

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

A program has surpassed one million enrollments, providing low-cost and, in some cases, free access to youth and adaptive sports ...

LAHSA Appoints New Interim CEO Amid System Transitions

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

The agency is navigating uncertainty following the county’s decision to create a separate homelessness department and shifting federal policy priorities...

Venice Chamber Installs New Board at Community Event

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

Representatives from multiple levels of government were in attendance The Venice Chamber of Commerce welcomed its newly elected 2025–26 Board...

Measles Case Confirmed in LA, Officials Urge Vaccination

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

Investigators are working to identify potential exposures and assess the risk to others Health officials have confirmed a case of...