Joanne Peterson won an upset victory against Marilyn Messina, a 20-year veteran of the Woodland Hills School District, in Tuesday's Republican primary election.

"Now the real work begins," Mrs. Peterson said. "I'll have to learn to express myself better and see what I can do to improve things for the kids of Woodland Hills."

Because Mrs. Peterson ran as a Republican and Mrs. Messina ran on both tickets for Region 4, the two will face each other again in the general election in November.

"I don't look at it as an upset," Mrs. Messina said. "I'll be just as dedicated to what I've done as I have been for the last 20 years. I just look at it as something to take care of business in the fall."

Another incumbent, Linda Cole, narrowly defeated her Democratic opponent, Regis Driscoll, but soundly won against a Democratic write-in candidate, Mike Belmonte, who began quietly campaigning for the Region 8 race within the last two weeks.

Board members Randy Lott, of Region 1; Robert Tomasic, of Region 6; and Cynthia Lowery, of Region 9, ran unopposed. Mr. Tomasic ran as a Democrat. All the other incumbent board members ran as duel party candidates.

Five of the nine school board directors in Woodland Hills School District were seeking re-election.

While the district faces several challenges in the coming years, perhaps the most significant issue concerns the possible closing of East Junior High School, once known as Turtle Creek Senior High School.

Several board members are in favor of closing East Junior High School while the community is sharply divided.

Some say the building should be preserved for historic value. Other members of the community are in favor of shutting it down in response to declining school enrollment.