L.A. elections will set the pace for UCLA and for ourselves

Los Angeles is having another election on March 3. Regardless of where you stand on the issues, keeping track of the election is definitely a good idea. While some of these aren’t immediately pressing for Bruins, there are a few races that UCLA students ought to watch.

UCLA is in the 5th Council District, which has an open seat along with four seats on the Los Angeles Community College District board of trustees and three seats on the school board. The winners will set standards for students who will come to UCLA in the next few years. Los Angeles education policy indirectly affects UCLA policy, as well as Bruin student participation in the community.

Students who are already politically involved have jumped into the fray. Bruin Democrats has endorsed Measure B, a solar energy initiative that would invest in solar panels on all public buildings. The group is backing Bruin Democrats’ alumnus and former state Assemblyman Paul Koretz for the Los Angeles City Council’s 5th District seat.

Bruin Democrats’ Internal Vice President Brandon Harrison, a fourth-year history student, said that Bruin Democrats has planned precinct walks every weekend leading up to the election in support of Koretz and Measure B. Bruin Democrats is also supporting teacher Steve Zimmer in his campaign for the Los Angeles Unified School District school board’s 4th District, which stretches from the San Fernando Valley to Santa Monica. Harrison called Zimmer a “teacher and an activist,” and expressed disappointment at the absence of teachers on the school board.

Bruin Republicans has declined to endorse candidates for this election according to media relations director Tim Rozelle. Rozelle, a third-year history and political science student, cited the large numbers of members registered outside Los Angeles as the primary reason for the Bruin Republicans’ decision.

However, Rozelle encouraged Bruins to get involved if they could and vote if they were registered, especially in the school board campaigns.

“The direction of the school board, especially in a tough economy, is very important,” Rozelle said.

A Pasadena native, Rozelle plans to vote at home and expressed support for Bruin Republican alumnus Steven Ly, a city council candidate in neighboring Rosemead.

For the politically unaffiliated, there’s plenty of other city issues to study. Why does parking in Westwood suck? How do you feel about Westwood’s openness to students? Do you wish there were a Metro subway stop at Wilshire and Westwood? (I do ““ it’d save me two hours on my trips home!)

Los Angeles is a big place, welcoming to some Bruins and uncomfortable for others. It’s still home for all of us, and we need to make it as comfy for ourselves as we can. City council members can help make Westwood more livable for Bruins, provided we show an interest in our adoptive home’s political life.

Last quarter, I tried to draw your attention to local elections ““ congressional seats, county seats, city councils. I said then that Congress responds faster and pays more immediate attention to your needs than the White House. In the same vein, Los Angeles pays more immediate attention to your needs than Congress. As long as we go to school here, Los Angeles sets the tone for UCLA and us.

President Barack Obama can’t fix parking in Westwood, and Gov. Schwarzenegger doesn’t decide how much to charge for jaywalking tickets. Educate yourself about the election. While it’s too late to register to vote, students who registered for the presidential election with their Los Angeles addresses can vote, and polling places are the same as in November.

Los Angeles has plenty of opportunities for Bruins to entertain and educate themselves. This is one of them, and an important one at that. Don’t let it pass.

If you want a Metro stop in Westwood, e-mail Sukaton at