Voters Send Varied Signals In Local Races

By Catherine Gewertz

Voters in Cleveland and in Hartford, Conn., extended or expanded their mayors' control of the cities' schools last week, while voters in Los Angeles and Houston agreed to pay higher taxes to rebuild or repair school buildings.

A proposed school bond issue in Cincinnati, however, went down to defeat, as did an attempt to tip the balance of power on the San Diego school board against the superintendent.

In a widely watched test of whether citizens believe they should directly choose their school leaders, Cleveland voters decided overwhelmingly that their mayor should continue appointing the chief executive officer of the schools and...