Another CUSD Trustee Race Shapes Up

A race emerges for the trustee seat representing Aliso Viejo as a challenger has stepped forward to face off with President Gary Pritchard.

Pritchard was elected only two years ago. When voters decided to , Pritchard was elected to finish out his term.

So, with not even two years under his belt, Pritchard will run for reelection. He declared his candidacy Wednesday with the O.C. Registrar of Voters.

Also officially coming forward Wednesday was CUSD newcomer Bill Perkins. From 2001-2007, Perkins served on the Planning Commission in Costa Mesa. His exit coincided with his move to Aliso Viejo.

The Nov. 6 election will mark the first time in Capo Unified in which trustees will be elected by specific areas. Previously, trustees needed to come from one of seven specific areas but were elected by the voting population at large.

In 2010, , which changed elections to by-trustee-area only.

After being elected to the board in 2010, Pritchard served as vice president. However, because then-President Jack Brick chose not to run the regular board meetings, Pritchard has chaired the meetings for his entire term.

Since his election, Pritchard has often been in the majority in multiple 5-2 votes. The two trustees frequently on the losing end, Trustees Ellen Addonizio and Sue Palazzo, have endorsed Perkins, according to his site.

Meanwhile, , which includes parts of San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores and Coto de Caza.

Trustee John Alpay is the only candidate to officially express interest in Trustee Area 3 in San Clemente. No one has pulled papers for Trustee Area 1, which includes a part of San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point.

Stay tuned to Patch for more CUSD election coverage.