He was too anxious and chose instead to attend his mother-in-law's birthday party, Stanton said.

But Stanton, who was re-elected, didn't have to attend the count alone. Chris Steinhauser, superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District, was there by her side.

Steinhauser, following the lead of his predecessor Carl Cohn, has been politically involved in the three fiercely contested school board races this year. In addition to endorsing the three incumbents, he gave $250 to each one's re-election campaign.

His political involvement comes as the school board is weighing whether to extend his contract with the district. Some see a conflict of interest in Steinhauser's political support of candidates who ultimately will decide his employment status, including his salary.

"I don't think it's right that he is trying to select his own bosses," said Scott McVarish, executive director of the Teachers Association of Long Beach, the teacher's union. The union heavily backed three challengers in the election, one of whom, Michael Ellis, emerged victorious. Another, David Barton, is headed for a June 6 runoff against incumbent Jim Choura.

The other TALB candidate, Jim Deaton, fell short to Stanton.

Steinhauser said he regularly attends vote-tallying events like the recent count at City Hall because of his interest in the school board election outcomes.

"I think the process is always fascinating to watch," he said.

Steinhauser said that as a private citizen, he has the right to support candidates.

"None of us in any of our jobs give up our First Amendment rights," said Steinhauser, adding that district resources can't be used to further those opinions.

Steinhauser said the same questions could be raised about a teacher's political involvement.

Job duties "can all be done with people still utilizing their First Amendment rights in their private life, but doing the job that they are hired to do," he said.

Conflict of interest?

The Long Beach Board of Education on April 18 had been scheduled to consider a proposal extending Steinhauser's contract an additional two years, to 2010. The item was removed from the agenda after board member Felton Williams asked for more details on the vacation policy element of the contract.

Cohn, who left LBUSD in 2002, said that he felt it appropriate to get involved in Long Beach school board elections.

"It seemed to me to create an unfair situation where all kinds of other employee groups get to spend money on school board elections, but the superintendent doesn't," said Cohn, who is now the superintendent of San Diego City Schools.

"I just felt that if people want to know my opinion, I have rights as a citizen to offer that opinion," said Cohn, adding that he has decided not to get involved with San Diego school board elections.

Stanton said Steinhauser's support won't affect her decision on his contract status.

"I don't look at it that way," she said. "I know the superintendent doesn't think of it that way."

Union active

The teachers' union is also advocating for its members' interests this election by heavily backing three candidates.

McVarish rejects allegations that the union's political involvement is designed to get votes on the board for a favorable labor contract. The district and union are in the midst of negotiations on salaries, benefits and other issues, and teacher pay was a prominent issue during the campaigns.

The union won't be calling the shots on behalf of any TALB-backed board member, he said.

"It's naive to think that we will ever make that call," he said. "Secondly, it's naive to think that those very, very qualified people wouldn't be offended if we did."

Ellis, who received about $30,000 in monetary and non-monetary campaign contributions from TALB this year, said he would remain independent.

"If TALB were to present a proposal that I felt was going to be negative or a detrimental influence on the district I will vote against it every single time," he said.

McVarish said the superintendent's political involvement should be judged differently because he is more directly tied to the board than teachers, who report to principals.

"Ask any teacher who their boss is and not one of the 5,000 would say it's the school board," he said.

Principals involved

Steinhauser also was present at a voluntary meeting of principals outside school hours at The Grand on Feb. 8. At that meeting, the election was discussed, including the candidates running and what principals could do to give their support, principal Frank Gutierrez of Jackie Robinson K-8 School said.

Steinhauser called Gutierrez at home to tell him about the meeting, the principal said. After discussing the candidates in the election, the principals broke into groups, at which point several principals and district administrators who had taken the lead on election issues discussed ways to help the incumbent candidates, such as walking precincts or posting signs, Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez got involved in phone banking for Choura, he said.

"I think (principals) are knowledgeable," Gutierrez said. "We do know communities and I think it is important that we do look at the issues and be able to support what our positions are outside of school and get involved in some ways."

Choura is chief executive officer of El Dorado Management Group, which operates The Grand.

Choura, who was present at the meeting, said Steinhauser told principals "he was not placing anyone under any kind of pressure."

Steinhauser's support won't affect board decisions about his contract, Choura said.

"I think that as a trustee, you have to be even more careful about conflicts than you would as a lay citizen and that's understood as we go through all the contracts that we handle and sign," he said.

McVarish said Steinhauser crossed the line with the principals' meeting.

"He was their campaign manager in effect," he said.

Kevin Butler can be reached at kevin.butler@presstelegram.com or (562) 499-1308.