Motivated by a desire to improve academics, school safety, and parental rights, candidates vying for a seat on the Newport-Mesa Unified School Board faced off in a forum hosted by the Harbor Council Parent-Teacher Association Oct. 10.
This year, four seats on the board are up for grabs: Trustee Area 2, which covers Costa Mesa’s eastside; Area 4, comprising the southeast Newport Beach region; Area 5, which spans the majority of the Newport Coast; and Area 7, which encompasses the westside portion of Costa Mesa.
In Areas 2 and 4, both current trustees opted to not seek re-election, leaving the seat open for newcomers.
In Area 2, Danielle Mills, a parent who works in the veterinary field, will face off against Michelle Murphy, a parent and nonprofit executive….