The Brea Olinda Unified school board will appoint to fill the Trustee Area 4 seat, after declaring Thursday night, March 5, that Chris Becerra had vacated his elected position.
Becerra has not attended any board meeting since Nov. 6. Under state law, missing three consecutive months of meetings can be considered as having vacated an elected seat.
The Brea Police Department arrested Becerra in December on suspicion of possessing child pornography; annoying or molesting a child; falsifying evidence; and bribing, influencing, intimidating or threatening a witness following allegations that he sent inappropriate sexual messages to a child. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case; no formal charges have been filed.
Now that the school board has declared the seat vacant, it is seeking a qualified candidate for a provisional appointment. The appointee will serve out the remainder of Becerra’s term until the next regularly scheduled election for that seat, which is in November.
Becerra could not be immediately reached for comment.
The board had the option of declaring a special election or appointing to fill the seat and directed the superintendent on Thursday night to begin the appointment process, which must be completed within 60 days.
Prospective candidates must be at least 18 years old, be residents of Brea and live within the boundaries of Trustee Area 4, which runs from North Puente Street on the west to State College Boulevard and the 57 Freeway on the east and West Central Avenue to the north to Imperial Highway and East Birch Street to the south.
Information regarding the application process, eligibility requirements, and overall timeline will be shared at the next board meeting on March 19. Find out more about applying at bousd.us.