The election to fill three seats on the Fresno Unified School District board has turned out to be a referendum on Superintendent Michael Hanson's seven-year tenure leading the local school system.

That theme is most intense in the campaigns against incumbents Carol Mills in Area 5 and Janet Ryan in Area 6. Both support Hanson, and we believe that Mills and Ryan have earned re-election. We recommend their candidacies in the Nov. 6 election. In Area 2, incumbent Larry Moore is not seeking re-election, and we recommend Luis Chavez as a replacement. Moore is the former teachers union president and has long opposed Hanson.

While we have not always agreed with Hanson on specific issues, we believe that he has done a good job overall. In a district as diverse as Fresno Unified, no superintendent is going to make everyone happy. But on the fundamental issues, Hanson has performed well.

When he took over, the district was nearly bankrupt, and a state takeover was a possibility. It is now on solid financial footing, and has avoided layoffs this year. That's impressive, especially compared with the financial standing of the state's other large urban school districts.

The ouster of Mills and Ryan would shift the balance of power on the school board. This is no time for the district to return to the uneasy days of financial instability.

Mills, who represents the Fresno High area, points to improved test scores, the district's building program and the restored finances as evidence that the district is on the right track. "The district has benefitted from stable leadership," she said, adding that she works on issues and doesn't engage in the "drama" that some trustees engage in at board meetings.

Ryan, who represents the Hoover area, said the importance of the district's financial stability can't be overstated. If the district isn't fiscally strong, it won't be able to put money into the classroom, she said. She's also a supporter of additional resources going into career and technical education.

Chavez, who is running for the open seat in the Roosevelt area, said he would like to see more money going into the classroom and more emphasis on vocational training classes. He also said the district must be much more aggressive in dealing with the dropout problem. He also wants to see more parent and community outreach by the district.

Fresno Unified voters have clear choices on Nov. 6. We recommend that they support Carol Mills, Janet Ryan and Luis Chavez.