Downey school board members re-elected

Trustee Area 3: 
Willie Gutierrez:  401
Claudia Medina:  158

Trustee Area 4: 
Donald LaPlante:  328
Linda Solomon Saldana:  195
Maria Avalos: 112

Trustee Area 5: 
D. Mark Morris: 127
Vanessa Rodriguez:  97

DOWNEY -- All incumbents for Downey Unified's board of education were re-elected to office Tuesday. 

With all precincts reporting, D. Mark Morris, Donald LaPlante and Willie Gutierrez fended off female challengers in a sparsely attended election. 

In trustee area 3, Gutierrez collected 401 votes (71.7%) to Claudia Medina's 158 votes (28.2%). 

With 328 votes, longtime board member LaPlante was able to hold off two challengers in area 4. His biggest challenger was Linda Solomon Saldana, who collected 195 votes (30.7%). 

Another challenger, Maria Avalos, took in in 112 votes (17.6%). 

"I am tremendously honored to have been re-elected by the citizens in Trustee Area 4," LaPlante said. "I want to thank all of my supporters, especially the teachers of Downey, for their hard work on my behalf.  

"I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board for the next four years to manage the major construction program approved last year in Measure O and the goals the Board has set to implement the new state standards under Common Core."

Saldana ran a grassroots campaign but it ultimately was not enough. 

 "I have no regrets putting my name on the ballot for Downey's School Board," she posted on Facebook. "On the contrary, what an amazing experience. My favorite part, knocking on doors and meeting my neighbors and community."

In trustee area 6, Morris garnered 127 votes (56.7%) to Vanessa Rodriguez's 97 (43.3%). 

With no opposition, school board member Tod Corrin also was re-elected to another four-year term.