CANDIDATES' DESIGNATIONS QUESTIONED.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Adding a distinctive note to Antelope Valley school elections this year is the unusually high number of occupations listed by candidates that were questioned by county election officials.

The occupations given by at least nine candidates for listing under their names on the election ballots were taken under review by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office.

``I don't remember having so many designations under review,'' said spokeswoman Grace Romero.

Candidates who list occupations for the ballot that do not conform with state regulations are informed in writing and must respond within three days of receiving notice from the county with another occupation.

``When we review their nomination papers and see what they have designated as their occupation, if it doesn't conform to Secretary of State guidelines, we will not put that occupation on the candidate listing,'' Romero said.

Candidates are required to list their primary source of income and cannot use more than three words, Romero said.

Husband and wife Dino and Anthonette Vidal are both running for seats, Dino in the Antelope Valley Union High School District and Anthonette in the Palmdale School District.

Both listed ``parents rights advocate,'' which was deemed unacceptable because advocate is not their primary source of income, Romero said.

``They got their rules. We've got to follow them. It was something that I was not aware of when I first filed,'' Dino Vidal said.

Dino Vidal said he changed his occupation to school maintenance personnel, and his wife's was revised to homemaker.

Three other candidates in the Palmdale School District board election also had their occupations reviewed. They were Tim Murphy, who listed ``aerospace,'' which is unclear, Romero said.

Tim Dura's occupation of ``teacher/retired U.S. Air Force major'' went beyond the three-word limit, and Terry Maness' ``parent volunteer'' was not acceptable because it was not a primary source of income, Romero said.

Wilsona School District had three candidates whose occupations were turned back.

They were Christina Behringer, who put ``parent volunteer''; Christopher Lewis, who listed ``civil service,'' which was vague; and Emma Montesdeoca, who put ``incumbent, RN, mother,'' Romero said.

In Montesdeoca's case, any one of the three would be acceptable, Romero said. Montesdeoca said she changed her listing to incumbent.

Incumbent Ann Harris in the Eastside Union School District had put ``teacher/incumbent,'' and Romero said it had to be one or the other. Harris said she will use incumbent.