Teachers union backs newcomers

For the first time, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District's teachers union will campaign against every incumbent in November's school board election.

The Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, which has never backed a losing candidate, plans to campaign this fall for three new faces. Late on Tuesday, the union declared its support for Karen Yelsey and Sandy Asper, who are facing longtime board members Serene Stokes and Judy Franco. The union also endorsed Michael Collier, a candidate for the seat that trustee Linda Sneen is vacating this year.

Over the last decade since it began endorsements, the teachers union has backed five candidates, three of whom were incumbents and all of whom went on to win. This year marks the first time that the union has opposed all sitting board members.

"I think what we're looking at is, as much as we appreciate the support teachers have received from Judy and Serene on the board, we've reached a point where we'd like some fresh eyes looking at things," said union president Jim Rogers.

Although the union supported both Stokes and Franco in their last races, neither trustee said she was surprised by the announcement. Franco, who has been on the board since 1980, pointed to Asper's past leadership in the teachers union and her current post on the group's benefits committee as possible factors in the decision.

"I was not shocked, if you will," Franco said. "I'm still doing my campaign, and doing it as I have done it in the past."

Stokes, a board member since 1994, suspected that the union bypassed her in part due to her views on contract negotiation. She said she favored bargaining between the teachers and school board and opposed outside arbitrators, which the union has occasionally brought in to settle disputes.

"You are always disappointed not to be endorsed," Stokes said. "However, you need to evaluate your commitment to the endorsers."

Jeff Qualey, the co-chair of the committee that interviewed the candidates last week, countered that his group generally shared Stokes' views and that her positions had not played a large role in the union's decision. The union favored Yelsey, he said, simply because it agreed with her opinions and saw her as an inspired leader.