Eight candidates are seeking three seats on the school board of the Bellflower Unified School District, but incumbents in the Downey and Paramount Unified School Districts are unopposed.

The flurry of interest surrounding the available seats on the Bellflower Unified board is rather typical for the district, which has a history of campaign histrionics that have ranged from the extremes of political perspective to a perception that the board is dominated by residents of Lakewood that favor Mayfair High over Bellflower High.

The incumbents are Jerry Cleveland of Lakewood and Don McMackin of Bellflower. Bill Ste. Marie of Bellflower is not seeking re-election. The field of challengers consists of Bellflower’s Clifton Phillips, a teacher and administrator; Richard Downing, an engineer and educator, Jerry Trautman, a director of operations, and Alejandro Salazar, a business owner; and Lakewood’s Sean H. Bookout, a police officer, and Debra Cuadros, a business woman and parent.