LAUSD HOPEFUL CLAIMS MAYOR’S FAVOR

By Melissa Pamer, Staff Writer | Daily Breeze

1/21/09 - Los Angeles Unified board hopeful Steve Zimmer has received Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's endorsement, the candidate said.

The mayor confirmed his backing to Zimmer last week, but was holding off on an announcement until after the presidential inauguration, the candidate said.

Both Zimmer and fellow LAUSD high school teacher Mike Stryer said last month that they were seeking the mayor's endorsement in their race to replace Marlene Canter representing District 4, which includes Westchester.

The race changed significantly in December when top contender Ben Austin, a former deputy mayor who was expected to get Villaraigosa's nod, failed to get enough voter signatures to qualify for the March 3 election.