Two school board seats up for grabs in next election

Twelve people have taken out papers for two seats on the Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education, including both incumbents, Dorothy Beaubien and Dolores Didio. However, only one person, past candidate Peggy Buckles, has returned her documents and is officially on the Nov. 4 ballot.

This will be Buckles' third attempt to get a seat on the CVUSD board. Buckles was the incumbents' closest competitor in the 2006 election, with 11.32 percent of the vote, although it wasn't enough to replace Mike Dunn, Pat Phelps or Tim Stephens, who were reelected and will serve until 2010.

"I have followed school board issues since I was Conejo Council president, and that was over 10 years ago," Buckles said. "As a former teacher, I think I have something to offer, and as a parent, I think I understand the situation. It's something I have an interest in and want to volunteer my time doing. I think we can do a good job working together and keeping the district on track."

The filing period is open until tomorrow, Aug. 8, unless neither Beaubien nor Didio decide to run, in which case the filing period will be extended to Wed., Aug. 13.

Didio, who has served on the board for 25 years, is unsure about whether she'll file her papers.

"I haven't made up my mind yet," Didio said.

Beaubien, who was elected to the board in 1988, couldn't be reached for comment.

The two incumbents have until tomorrow to submit their election documents.

Among the 10 other possible candidates are Marlo Hartsuyker, president of the governing board of MATES, a proposed charter school; John Anderson, past candidate and frequent school board meeting speaker; and Laura Jane Dunn, a special education teacher in the Oxnard school district and wife of current board member Mike Dunn.

Others who took out papers: Elizabeth "Betsy" Connolly, Dirk De Kreek, Gary Izumo, Paul Kessler, Dennis Ray Hatland and John Hollister.

Buckles said she'll focus on facts during in the upcoming campaign.

"I think it's really a matter of getting your name out there and keeping up on the facts, so when you go to forums and meetings you can have an intelligent conversation," she said.