School board candidates to meet voters

Voters interested in this fall’s school board election can meet the candidates for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s board at a pair of upcoming forums.

The Harbor Council PTA and the League of Women Voters organized the forums, which will be held Wednesday at Lincoln Elementary School and Oct. 19 at the Costa Mesa Community Center. Judith Gielow of the League of Women Voters said she expected all the candidates to attend.

Running for the school board this year are two incumbents, Serene Stokes and Judy Franco, and five challengers. Stokes is up against longtime PTA leader Karen Yelsey, while Franco is facing retired teacher Sandy Asper and Corona del Mar High School parent Loretta Zimmerman. Orange Coast College instructor Jack Price, who is still listed on the ballot to run against Franco, recently called off his campaign and is not expected to attend the forums.

Michael Collier, the PTA president of College Park Elementary School, and nurse Kimberly Clark are competing for trustee Linda Sneen’s seat, which will open in November.

Both forums begin at 7 p.m. and are expected to last about two hours.