It Takes Multiple Ballots to Select Interim Clovis Unified Trustee
gvw_nancy_price
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 4 years ago on
October 24, 2019

Share

[Sassy_Social_Share_Premium id="3"]

Hugh Awtrey III, chairman of the Foundation for Clovis Schools, was selected Wednesday night by the Clovis Unified School Board to fill a board vacancy with a one-year provisional appointment.
Awtrey, 54, is an insurance broker with DiBuduo and DeFendis who attended Clovis Unified schools, as did his four children. His lengthy experience with the foundation and his community contacts were cited by trustees in support of his candidacy.


Listen to this article:


Awtrey was one of five candidates seeking appointment to the Area 4 seat former held by longtime trustee Brian Heryford, who retired in September. He will be sworn into office and take his seat at the Nov. 13 board meeting.
He will resign from the foundation’s board, said district spokeswoman Kelly Avants, who noted that the board also includes a Clovis Unified trustee who serves by appointment. Clovis Unified trustee Christopher Casado is the current appointee.

Election Would Have Been Costly

The board previously opted to make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy instead of incurring the expense of a special election. The appointment will expire in December 2020.

Clovis Unified interim trustee candidates (left to right): Robert Fox, Ryan Walker, Hugh Awtrey, Jacob Belemjian, Jonathan Holt. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)
The board held a special meeting Oct. 10 to interview all five candidates: Robert Fox, 70, a retired State Center Community College District administrator; Jonathan Holt, a 28-year-old financial planner; Jacob Belemjian, 47, who owns The Firing Line indoor shooting range and who ran an unsuccessful campaign against Heryford for the Area 4 seat in 2016; and Ryan Walker, a 36-year-old IT administrator with Snowflake Designs, a local gymnastics wear company.

During a 50-minute discussion Wednesday night that included three rounds of balloting, trustees talked about how all the candidates would be worthy additions because of their experience, perspectives, energy, and knowledge of the district.
“This could be historic to have someone so different than all of us here, that’s ever been on the board at Clovis Unified.” — Trustee Dr. Steven G. Fogg
Because the appointment is for 12 months, the trustees agreed that the new board member needed to be someone already familiar with the district operations, culture, mission, and goals.

New Perspectives Welcomed

It was soon clear that two candidates stood out. Fox, the only black candidate, was supported on the first ballot by the board’s newer trustees, Dr. Steven G. Fogg, Susan Hatmaker, and Tiffany Stoker Madsen, who said they welcomed having someone whose life experiences and perspectives would be different from the other trustees.
“This is a guy who brings so much different things — this could be historic for us,” Fogg said. “This could be historic to have someone so different than all of us here, that’s ever been on the board at Clovis Unified.”

“I believe Hugh has the type of community network that would help us (win support for a bond measure on the March ballot.” — Trustee Ginny Hovsepian
Awtrey was supported on the first ballot by trustees Casado, Ginny L. Hovsepian, and Betsy Sandoval. Hovsepian said she was “thrilled” that there was so much interest in the board vacancy and that all five applicants for the Area 4 seat indicated they plan to run for the board in the November 2020 election.

Help With Bond Measure Campaign

Hovsepian said Awtrey’s vast community connections and network made him a valuable asset in seeking community support for the $408 million bond measure that the board voted earlier in the meeting to put on the March 3 ballot.
“Just a few minutes ago we (voted to) put a school bond on the ballot in March,” she said. “That’s a high priority, supporting that and as board members getting that to happen.
“I believe Hugh has the type of community network that would help us. Mr. Fox, you’re an amazing person with an amazing background. … But your silo has been the community college, whereas Hugh has been spread all over the district and the community. That is one of the big differences between the two of you.”

Awtrey was selected on the second ballot on a 4-2 vote when Madsen switched her support from Fox.
The board then took a third vote to affirm Awtrey’s selection, which passed by a 6-0 vote.

DON'T MISS

3 Valley Schools Honored by State as Model Community Day Schools

DON'T MISS

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

DON'T MISS

Brothers Say They Found Amelia Earhart’s Plane, Will Donate It to Smithsonian

DON'T MISS

Clovis Medical School Students Celebrate First-Ever ‘Match Day’ for Residency Programs

DON'T MISS

These Fresno Eclipse Chasers Are Hoping For 4 Minutes of Darkened Bliss in Texas

DON'T MISS

If You Want to See the April Eclipse, Make Sure to Protect Your Eyes

DON'T MISS

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

DON'T MISS

16 SWAT Officers Hospitalized After Blast at Training Facility in Southern California

DON'T MISS

Steven Mnuchin Builds Investor Group to Acquire TikTok Amid Potential US Ban

DON'T MISS

Kerman Council Delays Decision on Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

No data was found
Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

10 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Bitwise /

10 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

Environment /

13 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

14 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

14 hours ago

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

14 hours ago

Trump: Some Migrants Are ‘Not People’, There’ll Be a ‘Bloodbath’ if I Lose

14 hours ago

Tech Lawyer and Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan Rumored as RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

News /

14 hours ago

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

15 hours ago

Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies

15 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

â– Valley Children’s paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. â– The Va...
Healthcare /

9 hours ago

4 days ago

Realtor Association Settles Lawsuit on Commission Rules. Fresno Broker Fears the End of Market Transparency

4 days ago

Prosecutor Leaves Georgia Election Case Against Trump After Relationship With District Attorney

4 days ago

Rory McIlroy’s 65: 10 Birdies, 2 Tee Shots in the Water, 1 Testy Dispute

4 days ago

Aaron Donald Announces His Retirement After a Standout 10-Year Career With the Rams

4 days ago

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

4 days ago

Baseball Superstar Ohtani and His Wife Arrive in South Korea for Dodgers-Padres MLB Opener

4 days ago

India’s New Citizenship Law Excludes Muslims. Here’s What to Know

4 days ago

US, G-7 Allies Warn Iran to Back Off Deal to Provide Russia Ballistic Missiles or Face New Sanctions

Photo of San Francisco 49ers' Arik Armstead

4 days ago

Former 49ers DT Arik Armstead Agrees to a 3-Year, $51 Million Deal with the Jaguars, AP Source Says

4 days ago

Supreme Court Rules Public Officials Can Sometimes Be Sued for Blocking Critics on Social Media

Search