by Joe Piasecki
Pasadena Sun
In west Altadena school board District 1, board member Kim Kenne leads retired teacher Dean Cooper 769 votes to 274 (73.7% to 26.2%), with one of nine precincts reporting.
This is the first Pasadena school board election based geographic voter districts.
Voters approved the switch from at-large races last year after officials endorsed voter districts as a way to increase diversity on the school board and better enfranchise minority voters — particularly Latinos, who represent more than 60% of Pasadena public school students
Because of the switch from at large seats to voter districts, Kenne ran for reelection after serving only half of a four-year term.
When newly elected board members take office on May 14, Kenne will give up her at-large seat, prompting school board members to appoint or call for a special election to name a replacement until that seat comes up for a vote in 2015.
