School Boards: Incumbents Fall in Clovis, Central, Fresno, SCCCD

Veva Islas ousted incumbent Christopher De La Cerda in the Fresno Unified school board race to represent McLane High School trustee area.

With 100% precincts reporting, Islas garnered 59% of the vote.

De La Cerda, a retired school educator, was seeking his second full term on the school board. The race was for one of four trustee seats in play this election cycle.

In the weeks leading up to Election Day, De La Cerda caused a stir in the race by claiming the California Teachers Association and SEIU had endorsed him.

In fact, CTA did not endorse any candidate in the race and SEIU endorsed Islas. De La Cerda said he misspoke.

Keshia Thomas Wins Area 1

In Area 1, Keshia Thomas beat out Robert Fuentes to represent the Edison High Region.

“It feels so wonderful,” Thomas said. “I am humbled and excited and can’t wait to go to work for my kids.”

Keshia Thomas (GV Wire Photo/Jahz Tello)

“I am humbled and excited and can’t wait to go to work for my kids.”— Keshia Thomas, newly-elected Area 1 trustee

Thomas finished with a comfortable lead over Fuentes, winning 58 percent of the votes. Fuentes received 42 percent.

Thomas will replace Lindsay Cal Johnson, who decided not to run for re-election. Johnson served on the board for 12 years.

Valerie Davis Secures Re-election

Incumbent Valerie Davis defended her seat in the Area 3 race to continue representing the Sunnyside region.

She faced competition from two challengers – Mark Ratchford and Karl Diaz. Davis finished off Tuesday night with 46 percent of the votes.

Diaz had 35 percent and Ratchford 19 percent.

Davis said her win reflects the work she has done as a board member for the past 12 years.

“I am grateful to do the work again for our students,” Davis said.

Terry Slatic Claims Area 7 Seat

Terry Slatic reigned supreme in Fresno Unified’s Area 7 race.

He beat out three other candidates — Nasreen Johnson, Amanda Karabian and Terri Edwards – to represent the Bullard High region. He replaces Brooke Ashjian, who did not seek re-election.

Slatic claimed 36% of the vote Tuesday night. Johnson finished with 28% of the vote, Edwards with 24% and Karabian with 12%.

“We are enjoying the moment,” said Slatic at his campaign party at The Lime Lite in Fresno.

Slatic said he plans to hit the ground running.

“I am looking at this as a 50-hour-a-week job,” Slatic said.

Clovis Unified

Susan Hatmaker made a stunning upset Tuesday night by unseating Area 1 Incumbent Sandy Bengal Budd on Clovis Unified’s School Board.

Hatmaker took home 52 percent of the votes with 100 percent precincts reporting. Budd received 48 percent.

Bengel Budd has been a trustee since 1993.

Some issues affecting Area 1 include expanding classroom offerings and improving communication within the district.

Hatmaker said she will work to address those problems and more by keeping a close ear in the community.

Tiffany Madsen beat Albert Zuniga to replace Jim Volkinburg, who is not seeking re-election. He has served since 1993.

Madsen received 72 percent of votes and Zuniga 28 percent.

As board member, Madsen pledges to always make decisions keeping kids first.

A total of three seats were up for grabs this election cycle.

Betsy Sandoval, who served on the board for 36 years in two different stings, ran unopposed in Area 6.

Central Unified

Two of the three Central Unified trustees who voted to oust popular superintendent Mark Sutton, were ousted themselves.

Central Unified School Board Area 1 and 2 Incumbents Cesar Granda and Ruben Coronado both lost their bid for re-election Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Rama Dawar has a slim lead, pending the counting of mail-in ballots.

Jason Paul, a local geologist and farmer, defeated Granda 60%-39% with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

Improving student safety and planning for growth are Paul’s top issues for Area 1.

Yesenia Carrillo, a local attorney, beat Coronado 55%-45% with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

Carefully managing the district’s budget and working as a team are her main priorities as board member.

Dawar leads Naindeep Singh Chann  by just 20 votes. It is too close to call with a yet-to-be determined amount of mail-in and provisional ballots to be counted.

In Area 4, Richard Atkins defeated challenger Shawn Brooks 62%-38%

Atkins, a manager at Leisle Electric Inc. in Fresno, said increasing academic performance in the district as well as career technical programs are his top goals.

State Center Community College District

Magdalena Gomez is poised for an upset over two-term trustee Ronald Nishinaka. With all precincts reporting in Fresno and Tulare counties, Gomez leads by 230 votes for the Area 4 seat.

In the Area 5 seat, Annalisa Perea becomes the third member of her family to win elected office.

Perea is the daughter of former Fresno city councilman and county supervisor Henry R. Perea; and sister of former councilman and state assemblyman Henry T. Perea.

Annalisa defeated Daren Miller and Teri Orantes for the seat vacated by Miguel Arias (who won election to Fresno city council) taking 51% of the vote. Miller finished with 43% and Orantes, who did not actively campaign, won 6%.

Fresno County Office of Education

Kimberly Tapscott-Munson will join the Fresno County Office of Education school board, winning 34% of the vote in a four-person race.

The retired Fresno librarian defeated Randy Rocca (28%), Michele Arvance (20%) and Richard Martinez (18%).

Tapscott-Munson ran in the pirmary for Fresno city council but did not qualify for the runoff. She will replace Ismael Herrera, who opted to run for a Kerman city council seat and won unopposed.

This story has been updated.