Schools
Board of Ed Candidate Bilak Loses Third Endorsement
Frances Bilak, one of four candidates competing in the Nov. 8 BHUSD school board race, loses another endorsement after a controversy involving the scheduling of a candidate debate.
School board candidate has lost a third endorsement after she last week to a Beverly Hills High School student trying to organize a candidate debate.
In the email, Bilak said she would alert local media and synagogues that the forum had been scheduled on a Friday evening when some Jewish residents celebrate the Sabbath.
The Beverly Hills Education Association, which represents city teachers, said in a statement Tuesday that it was withdrawing its endorsement of Bilak. BHEA President Mark Frenn had been a strong supporter, introducing Bilak at her on Sept. 18.
Find out what's happening in Beverly Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
An El Rodeo parent, Bilak is one of four contenders for three seats on the Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education. Board Vice President , educator and Beverly Vista parent are also competing in the Nov. 8 race.
The BHEA statement follows news late last week that Councilwoman Lili Bosse and Planning Commissioner Brian Rosenstein for Bilak. The two officials made those announcements on Patch.
Find out what's happening in Beverly Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“The Beverly Hills Education Association has a solid track record of vetting and endorsing candidates for local office… Part of the process requires us to remain sensitive to the evolving dynamics of an election cycle and to be prepared to adjust to new and unforeseen developments,” the group said. “Therefore, it is with the greatest respect for this process that BHEA has decided to withdraw its endorsement of Frances Bilak for school board.”
The decision to withdraw the endorsement was made by BHEA’s Representative Council, Frenn told Patch in an email. The council is “the policy-making body of BHEA and is given the authority to act on behalf of the general membership on matters involving policies and objectives of the association. Decisions regarding political activities, such as endorsing candidates, ultimately fall within its scope,” Frenn wrote.
Bilak had no immediate comment on the BHEA decision. Check back with Patch tomorrow for more on this developing story.
Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and "Like" us on Facebook.
