Analyzing the Race
For the moment, it is not known where each candidates strengths and weaknesses lie with one exception. Teachers at La Ballona School favored Mr. Mielke by a 16-vote margin.
Around the Teachers Union office at the rear of the Middle School campus in the late afternoon, Union members said a contested race was such a rarity that they had no idea what to anticipate from voters.
Caught Off-Guard
Going into the final round of vote-counting, only four votes separated the candidates. Mr. Mielke held a 123 to 119 edge.
Arising from a mid-afternoon nap, Mr. Mielke attempted to sort out the reasoning of Union voters when he strode into Union headquarters in his trademark uniform. He seemed disappointed by his slim margin, though he never used that description.
Going in, he was not convinced that voters were feverish about the results. He recalled that for the single debate that was scheduled, on May 24, a tiny audience of 20 teachers turned out. The debate fizzled because Mr. Balibrera was unable to attend.
Nervous Time
If I had known it was going to be close, I would have been nervous, Mr. Mielke joked.
Then he turned serious.
The climate has been so negative for so long from the School District, he said.
People are so angry and frustrated that incumbents are bound to get some of that blame.
Blaming School Board
Mr. Mielke said the main fault lies with the School Board and its so-called down-nose attitude toward classroom teachers. The School Board has sent a message for the last 10 years that teachers are not important, he said.
The Union has had to fight tooth and nail every year, go to war some years, just to get cost-of-living increases.
I think this is as much a vote against the School District and the way it treats its teachers as it is against me or the current leadership.
Agree on Reasoning
For Mr. Balibrera, some portents drawn from the results paralleled Mr. Mielkes such as the teachers strong displeasure with Union leadership.
The president said the attitude of voters is understandable, but that he and his team have battled Irving Place as sternly as they could. Hardly, the runnerup hmphed.
Thereafter, the division became much sharper.
Unquestionably, we need new leadership, Mr. Balibrera said.
The District runs roughshod over us because the Union never says anything. Mielke never wants to disturb anything. The District thinks the teachers have no pull. At the District, they give themselves raises, and we say nothing.
The Necessary Posture
When you sit down with the District, you have to be aggressive.
Our leadership is very weak. No gumption, Mr. Balibrera said.
Diane Kaiser (who was president in the 1980s) and Dave Mielke have monopolized the Union for too long. Just because they have been around, they think they own the franchise. They think it belongs to them.
Promising Beginning
This is the first time that Mielke has been challenged.
I think getting 122 votes is pretty good, especially since, as it was widely noted, the challenger did not actively campaign for the office.
A Late Start
We did not decide to run until late, Mr. Balibrera said.
This is just the beginning for him in the challengers role.
He plans to run a longer, concentrated and more active campaign against Mr. Mielke in next years election.
A Natural Choice
The challenger said that Gary Katayama, the outgoing vice president of the Union, would have been a natural presidential contender. But Mr. Katayama decided against running for any office.
Candidates for the remainder of the slate are a mix of old and new. All ran unopposed.
Vice President Blake Silvers, succeeding Mr. Katayama.
Secretary Leslie McVay, incumbent.
Co-Treasurers MaryAnn Sweeney and Natalie Gualitiera. They succeed John Bakunin, who will be taking a leave of absence.
Next: Diane Kaiser, past president, and others talk about the state of the Teachers Union.
