He's definitely not independent. His voting track record is at best politically minded and doing what is best for his career, but at worst he's shown that he's going to do what his biggest campaign contributors ask him to do (teacher's unions). One good example of this is his abstaining on the vote to expand the WISH charter schools. These are great schools with a proven track record, but he wouldn't take a position on this vote. This is not reasonable for the LAUSD School Board President - he needs to lead and make his position known... but instead he chose to abstain for his own political safety.