When I visited School Board candidates Scott Zeidman and Laura Chardiet at their meet ‘n greet events last Sunday — Nancy Goldberg had the day off — both deftly fielded questions as if they ran for office once a year.
Tomorrow night — 7 o’clock in the cafetorium of La Ballona School — will afford a stiffer test.
All five candidates will be at the same table for the first time since the Democratic Club endorsed Nancy Goldberg last month.
The joint at the Democratic Club was stacked for a lovely lady. Goldie could have claimed fish fly every afternoon at 5, and 25 people would have leaped to their feet and sworn it is true. They were passengers.
Because Ms. Chardiet and Mr. Zeidman controlled the tempo last Sunday in the low-key environments, they went to their separate strengths. It was fascinating to watch.
After four years on the School Board, Mr. Zeidman has as comprehensive of a grasp of School District business and the Board’s role as anyone I have met.
Knowing the Turf but…
In Desmond Burns’s living room, Mr. Zeidman was the consummate community politician.
Relaxed and leaning back, he knew every person who came through the door, answered questions confidently, like a gently flowing creek, but not too confidently, in a conversational tone. He was engagingly personal — as in, Here is what I do when you can’t see me.
There probably is less pressure to perform on him than on his first-time rivals. He has lived with the grilling and the criticism at Board meetings for four years. From the first meeting, there has been no doubt he is a leader, a rare political talent.
Because of his visibility, record and reputation, he is favored to retain his seat.
The horse race is Ms. Goldberg vs. Ms. Chardiet. That will be the one to watch tomorrow night.
Since June, I believe Ms. Chardiet has run close to a flawless campaign.
After her flaming red hair, you first notice her amazing personality and her reservoir of all-day energy, a scene-stealer. She doesn’t plan it, she just happens to be several places simultaneously.
Tougher Than It Looks
After I walked into the Wolkowitz home after dark last Sunday, Ms. Chardiet made the rounds of the dining and living rooms, and then came to the couch to introduce herself and her philosophy of educating.
She was peppered with What Would You Do questions, and it was impressive that she promptly and comprehensively gave answers that satisfied her inquisitors.
It looks like grammar school math, telling a roomful of people what you believe. Try it sometime. Collect a dozen friends, sit down in a livng room and let them pelt you with questions for 30 minutes.
Ms. Chardiet’s ambition, her personal and professional backgrounds have landscaped the present campaign for her — she is as comfortable running for office as if she were visiting her in-laws (I hope).
I have not seen Ms. Goldberg in this setting. I am curious. Her responses at the Democratic Club forum needed to be updated and polished. There is so much tender sentiment for her in the community, though, that she will close the gap easily and never face an unfriendly audience between here and Election Day.
The La Ballona crowd will not be unfriendly even though it is, technically, a home game for Ms. Chardiet.
I want to compare the two of them side by side in a reasonably neutral environment.
