Introducing an imaginative new concept in mass candidate appearances, the League of Women Voters provided last evening’s live audience and viewers at home with the most penetrating study of School Board contenders ever made available in Culver City.
With a bulky field of seven, none of them was looking forward to the standard format – where a single question laboriously is passed down the line, often answered in a slapdash manner, within the 60-second guidelines.
This time, under the direction of the League’s longtime mistress of ceremonies, the venerable, strategically humorous Frances Talbott-White, each candidate was handed the same 11 questions in advance.
As two out-of-town moderators randomly chose from the list of 11, always in a different order, each contender was allotted 10 minutes in the limelight. He could respond as succinctly or as lengthily as he wished to each and was under no obligation to answer all of them.
That longshot Robert Zirgulis was the only contender to wade through all 11 was not so much a tribute to his brilliant intellect as to his clever manipulation of answers so he could guarantee himself time to comment on his obsessively favorite subject, restoring the Natatorium.
The sizable crowd in Council Chambers loved it. Vigorously, they applauded Mr. Z’s ploy.
But more seriously…
Here is a summary of the 11 questions:
• What is the place of the Arts in education?
• How can the School District attract families who move into the community by send their children to private school or homeschool them?
• Regarding air pollution issues with El Marino Language Immersion School, should every school have an air filtration system?
• Name your major endorsements.
• What is the fundamental question emerging from last year’s adjunct controversy at El Marino?
• What was your volunteer record before becoming a candidate?
• Name top five priorities for the School Board to accomplish.
• How should the targeted student populations be handled regarding the Local Control Funding Formula?
• Explain the difference between a general obligation bond and parcel tax, and tell your preference.
• What do you propose doing with the Natatorium?
• How will you keep the promises you are making?
Ten minutes alone on stage worked to achieve perceived separation of the candidates on this second occasion that all of them were in the same room.
In one man’s view, there were three winners – Sue Robins, incumbent Karlo Silbiger, Dr. Steve Levin. The rest, incumbent Kathy Paspalis, Vernon Taylor, Claudia Vizcarra and Mr. Zirgulis probably did not change in minds.
[img]2177|right|Suzanne Robins||no_popup[/img]Ms. Robins – She is more comprehensively impressive each time out. The willowy businesswoman and former science teacher resembled a thoroughbred coming up on the outside. Her eyes bulged, her heartbeat increased as the finish line hovered into view. Scholarly in approach, she connotes confidence in the information she is delivering. Her answers were so deep, reflective and sound that it almost would have been impossible to improve on them.
Dr. Levin – Even though the rocket scientist has visited classrooms for years on a bi-weekly basis, dazzling, enlightening students of all ages with his amazing grasp of outer space, he is miles behind Ms. Robins as a public speaker. His winning ticket is that as a thinker, he is peerless. He may have spent more of his professional life generously volunteering than he has breathing, His silky, clearly reasoned breadth and grasp of every School District issue would impress a dead man.
Mr. Silbiger – To coin an un-new phrase that may please last evening’s sponsors, he is in a league of his own as the community’s most sophisticated, best informed, best connected politician. No challenger should try to emulate or catch him. Not be thoughtless coincidence did he hold up the stop sign last summer on the burgeoning bond campaign. He speaks only with authority and confidence even though he is the baby in the field by years.
Ms. Paspalis – Her strongest argument for re-election is a record of well-researched, carefully presented arguments validating her convictions, mirroring her professional record as an attorney. In four years, she has been far more persuasive as a legislator, and presently as the face and leader of the School Board.
Ms. Vizcarra – Her richly varied career in multi-tiered education and the business world where she has been a pacesetting entrepreneur speak strongly of her undoubted capabilities. But this may not have been the format for her. As a native of Mexico City, her interesting foray into her unique background was more enlightening than her racehorse answers to the six questions. She brings talents lacking in most of her rivals.
[img]2100|right|Vernon Taylor||no_popup[/img]Mr. Taylor – Ditto the background of this welcome breath-of-clean-air banker who would an ideal addition to the School Board. He and Ms. Vizcarra had parallel experiences last night. When he reviewed his community involvement the last 15 years, it could have earned him a Nobel Prize and Father of the Year award. Surprisingly, the financial expert appeared nervous, not as organized as he meant to be.
Mr. Zirgulis – He answered all 11 questions as if his shoes were on fire and his teeth were melting to have time to make his pitch for rehabbing what he calls the school pool. But only Ms. Vizcarra agreed with him.
