Times Endorsements

Today Los Angeles voters will decide four runoff contests--two City Council seats and one each on the Board of Education and the board of trustees of the Community College District. There also are two city measures on the ballot, a bond and a charter amendment. The Times policy is not to endorse in every race but rather to express preferences selectively.

City Council

District 5: MIKE FEUER

Attorney Feuer is the clear choice. The former legal services director has his finger on the pulse of this diverse district, which straddles the Westside and the Valley. He would bring fresh and spirited leadership to the council.

District 10: No endorsement

Board of Education

District 5: DAVID TOKOFSKY

In a race against another outstanding candidate (Lucia Rivera), Tokofsky, an award-winning teacher, has the slight edge. He knows both the classroom and the school district bureaucracy. That knowledge would be valuable in the effort to prod the Los Angeles Unified School District toward fundamental reform.

Community College Board

Office No. 1: GLORIA ROMERO

Romero, a university professor and activist, has valuable experience that should help the board translate its ideas into real world solutions.

Ballot Propositions

Proposition 1: YES

(Police Facilities Bond):

Dedicates $171 million in bonds for the addition of two police stations in the Valley and Wilshire areas while upgrading other police facilities to relieve overcrowding. The average homeowner would pay about 79 cents more a month. That’s a bargain for improved police response time.

Charter Amendment 2: YES

(Police Disciplinary Procedures)

Streamlines police disciplinary practices to protect officers and the public byensuring due process for police while giving the chief power to exercise needed discretion to punish problem officers.