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They are a team, LAUSD School Board member Steve Zimmer and his chief of staff, Claudia Vizcarra. Photo, Antonio Ezkauriatza.
“From hearing her speak and from reading her literature, I see that she has a profound understanding of the needs of a multi-cultural diverse type of education,” Dr. Suzanne De Benedettis said yesterday, breaking new rhetorical ground.
She was speaking of Claudia Vizcarra at the School Board candidate’s latest Sunday in the Park rally at Syd Kronenthal Park in east Culver City.
With measured subtlety, Ms. Vizcarra, a native of Mexico City who moved here to attend university, has injected bi-lingual themes into her campaign, hoping to attract the attention of the many Spanish-speaking families in the School District.
The multi-lingual concept has only received the barest notice with six weeks to go before the Nov. 5 election.
“It also is an advantage,” said Dr. DeBenedettis, “that she already is in politics, working for (LAUSD School Board member) Steve Zimmer and formerly for (the now-retired) Jackie Goldberg.
“Claudia knows how to read political climates and bring diverse groups together.”
Dr. DeBenedettis criticized querelousness that she said has surfaced in the community.
“It saddens me that during the past year, the School Board and United Parents of Culver City have been involved in division.
“I am a peacemaker. I am a person who likes to see unity come through different ideas rather than division.
“We have to have different ideas, and we have to argue them in the original sense, philosophically, to find what is best for our kids rather than divide.
“I was a child of parents who saw the value of unions, and I do, too. My mother worked in sweatshops and my grandparents did.
“I know that unions can be corrupt,” Dr. DeBenedettis said.
“But I am excited that Claudia wants to bring all of the different populations together to work together for the greater good of this entire community, students, parents, the taxpayers.
“Another part of this woman’s strategy I like is her pan dulces in the park. As people come, they get enrolled to go walking.”
