[0] COMMUNITY COLLEGES: INCUMBENT, 3 HOPEFULS OUT IN FRONT.

Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer

One incumbent and three newcomers held leads in early results Tuesday in the races for four seats on the Los Angeles Community College District's Board of Trustees.

A majority of the board's seven seats was on Tuesday's ballot. Trustees are elected at-large to oversee the nine campuses that make up the nation's largest two-year college district.

Sylvia Scott-Hayes, a college teacher from Los Angeles, was slightly ahead of Nancy Pearlman, an environmentalist and instructor from Los Angeles, in the 10-candidate race for Office No. 1, based on early returns.

The winner will replace Gloria Romero, who was elected to the state Assembly last fall.

In the three-candidate race for Office No. 3, Mona Field, a Glendale Community College professor from Los Angeles, held a narrow lead over Julia L. Wu, incumbent and full-time board member of Los Angeles. Jules S. Bagneris III, a pastor and educator from Los Angeles, trailed.

In the race for Office No. 5, incumbent Georgia Mercer of Tarzana held a wide margin, ahead of challengers Jonathan Leonard, a fire commissioner and businessman from Los Angeles, and Gordon Murley, a salesman and medical educator from Woodland Hills.

In the two-candidate race for Office No. 7, Warren T. Furutani, a former member of the Los Angeles Board of Education from Gardena, was leading Mark Isler, a businessman and television commentator from Van Nuys.

Office No. 7 has been occupied by David Lopez Lee, who initially sought re-election and then dropped out for personal reasons.

In races with more than two candidates in which no one gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers will meet in a June 8 runoff.