“Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls.”

​​– Peggy Noonan

With mail-in ballots about to drop for the March 5, 2024, primary elections, voters are running out of time to gather information about the candidates. This task is especially difficult in down-ballot races like the Board of Education with very little coverage given to these offices by the corporate media.

To help voters get to know the candidates running to represent them for the LAUSD BD3 School Board seat, an online candidate forum will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 9:00 AM. To participate in this Zoom event, members of the public can log on through this link: https://tinyurl.com/NorthridgeEast. To RSVP or suggest questions use this link: bit.ly/BD3_RSVP.

Five candidates submitted enough qualified signatures and paid the fee required to appear on the ballot. Dan Chang, Andreas Farmakalidis, Scott Mark Schmerelson, and Raquel Villalta have all confirmed that they will participate. Elizabeth Badger was also invited using the email address that she has on file with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, but as of publication has not responded.

Additionally, Janie Dam has qualified as a write-in candidate. She will also appear at the forum.

The following is a brief description of each of the candidates:

Dan Chang

Ballot Designation: Public School Teacher

Email: dan@mrchang.org, yolimiranda@hotmail.com

Website: www.chang4change.org

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
Dan Chang is a LAUSD math teacher, parent, and education non-profit leader with a 20 year track record of improving schools in Los Angeles. From teaching students pre-algebra to leading ambitious District improvement efforts, Dan is dedicated to seeing students, families, teachers and schools succeed in LAUSD.  

Dan is running to be the new voice for Valley schools on the LAUSD District 3 school board.

Responses to questions about District issues: None received.

Andreas Farmakalidis

Ballot Designation: Educator/Business Owner

Email: farmakalidisa@gmail.com

Website: www.LAUSD3.com 

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
Andreas Farmakalidis, immigrant, teacher, student, veteran and community leader, who seeks to bring  change to LAUSD district 3 with a rich background in education, politics and dedication to positive impact.

Andreas is committed to improving education for all students in LAUSD, especially those from marginalized communities. He believes in creating safe, inclusive and welcoming schools that prioritize student well-being and academic success. Join Andreas in his mission to create a brighter future for LAUSD.

Responses to questions about District issues: PROP-39, Special Education, Governance, Student Safety.

Scott Mark Schmerelson

Ballot Designation: Teacher/Counselor/Boardmember

Email: scott4lausd2024@gmail.com

Website: www.scottforlausd.com

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
No one loves schools more than Scott. The Philadelphia native joined the LAUSD family in 1978, and rose through the ranks as a teacher, counselor and principal at Virgil, Griffith and Lawrence middle schools. He retired after leading Johnnie Cochran Middle School for 10 years. His tenure was highlighted by improved test scores, a revamped physical plan, and higher student, teacher and parent morale. 

Colleagues and community members urged him to continue advocating for public education at the next level, the LAUSD School Board.

Responses to questions about District issues: PROP-39, Governance, Student Safety.

Raquel Villalta

Ballot Designation: Mother/Educator

Email: raquelvillalta4schoolboard@gmail.com

Website: None listed with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
Meet our exceptional candidate for LAUSD School Board District 3 in the San Fernando Valley – an accomplished educator and a devoted mother of students within the district. She stood on  principles and faith when LAUSD discriminated against her sincerely held religious belief against the Covid shot when they removed her out of the classroom and eventually placed her on unpaid leave. She is a bold warrior for freedom, faith and is in the fight to defend constitutional rights for generations to come.

With a distinguished teaching career that commenced in 2006, she stands out as a Nationally Board Certified Teacher…

Responses to questions about District issues: PROP-39, Student Safety.

Elizabeth Badger

Ballot Designation: Disability Educator/Businesswoman

Email: ebadger331@aol.com

Website: None listed with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
I believe our community, city and state is made better when our children can receive a quality world-class education.  As a parent of two young special needs children in LAUSD system, I have a personal stake in the future of LAUSD.  We can no longer claim to be the most superior and influential city on earth, with an inferior educational system!

Education, I believe, is one of the leading Civil Rights issues of this era.  Our children are withering on the educational vine, and we can no longer turn a blind eye to the inefficiencies in our LAUSD public schools…

Responses to questions about District issues: None received.

Janie Dam

Ballot Designation: n/a

Email: gary@crummittandassociates.com

Website: www.janiedam.com  

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
As a working parent, I am always grateful for the public schools. But it wasn’t until the pandemic when I was working from home 10 to 12 hours a day teaching math classes online and taking care of my child’s mental health at the same time, that I recognized just how critical an effective public education system truly was to working class families.

I’m a teacher, I never thought that I would ever run for political office. But it was a turning point for me when the social worker came to my door to let me know that the officers…

Responses to questions about District issues: PROP-39, Special Education, Governance, Student Safety.

Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD’s District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him “a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles.” For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.