Loretta A. Zimmerman

Full name: Loretta A. Zimmerman

Age: 58

Birth place: Los Angeles

How long have you lived in the Newport-Mesa district and where do you live exactly? I've lived in Newport Beach for 20 years, homeowner on Balboa Island since 1990. Married to Greg Zimmerman 31 years, five children.

Occupation (or former occupations): Parent of five recent Newport Mesa graduates, the most recent, Jennifer, graduated from Corona del Mar High School in June, and is attending college as a freshman in New York City.
Four sons have graduated from CdM: Jim 2001, Jeff 2003, Jay 2004 and Jon 2006. All have graduated from college.

Former occupation: professional career in city administration as an assistant city manager overseeing budget and human resources (city of San Juan Capistrano).  Past president Orange County Chapter of American Society of Public Administration.

Education: bachelor's degree in English and a master of public administration degree

Previously elected or appointed positions: No answer

Community organizations you belong to: Newport Beach Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer; PTA Executive Board member for more than 12 years in Newport schools; 10 years serving as an elected member of the School Site Councils at the elementary and high school level; NMUSD committee member (Superintendent Advisory Search Council); president (two years) and board member (six years) of a nonprofit pre-school; recipient of the PTA Honorary Service Award 2010.

Why are you running (for challengers) or running again (incumbent) for office?

This is an extraordinary time that calls for leadership in our school district beyond protecting the status quo.  I am not running against the Newport-Mesa school district, but I am running against a 30-year incumbent who has been on the board since 1980. Sometimes incumbents are more intent on protecting their own job security than figuring out new ways to improve academic achievement and restructure our schools to meet the challenges today.

What do you think are the biggest issues facing Newport-Mesa right now?

These are the biggest issues I see facing the district:

Budget issues
Teacher layoffs
Struggling schools
Lack of transparency by the board