It's Official: Broberg Concedes Election Defeat to Blumenfeld

Three-term LCUSD governing board member will not ask for a recount in the rollercoaster election where challenger secured a seat by 10 votes.

Broberg phoned Blumenfeld Tuesday to congratulate him, conceding defeat in the Nov. 8 election. 

"She said she wasn't going to ask for a recount, and that she wished me well in my new position,'' Blumenfeld said by phone Tuesday.

In an email to Patch, Broberg wrote, ""With the certification of the School Board election this Monday, I sincerely congratulate Ellen Multari and AJ Blumenfeld.  I wish them well as they commence the very serious responsibility of being on the team that leads our precious La Cañada Unified School District.

"I also thank all who assisted in my campaign. Names, yards for signs, time spent, phone calls all so appreciated.  Now we can all continue working to keep La Cañada the community that works together for its schools,'' Broberg wrote.

Nail-Biter Election

Though one of four candidates running for two open seats on the governing board, unoffically won a spot on the board election night, the question of who would occupy that second seat was less clear.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting Nov. 8, unofficial results showed Broberg with a 12-vote lead over Blumenfeld, a 20-year-old junior at the University of Princeton and 2009 graduate of .

Additional tallies of provisional and other ballots, first on Nov. 11 then three more counts last week, first showed on her challenger. Then , with Blumenfeld nipping at the incumbent's heels. The last and final tally, on Friday, showed .

The final electon results, certified Monday by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk are: Ellen Multari  2,109 votes; Blumenfeld, 1,835; Broberg 1,825; and with 984 votes.

What's Next?

Multari and Blumenfeld will be sworn in at the Dec. 6 board meeting. Leading up to that meeting, Blumenfeld, said, he has been setting up meetings with community members and planning the direction for his Education Action Committee. There will be a get together for the public to chat with Blumenfeld at Dish on Dec. 4 from 5-7 p.m. He would like to thank folks who voted for him, and entertain community input about educational issues.

Then, another meeting will be held from 7:30-9 p.m. at a resident's home where Blumenfeld will invite parents and their children to talk to the new school board member.