Challengers and some incumbents in Fresno-area School Board races got off to a fast start this week filing the required paperwork with the Fresno County Elections Office to be on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

Two Clovis Unified School District trustees, Hugh Awtrey and Yolanda Moore, were among the first filers this week. Meanwhile, incumbent David DeFrank will not be running for re-election, but his wife Molly has already declared her candidacy and qualified for the ballot in Clovis Unified’s Area 2.

“My family has been incredibly blessed by the world-class education provided by our excellent Clovis Unified teachers and administrators. I want to give back to this community and ensure our district remains one of the best in the state,” Molly DeFrank said in a news release.

She is a mother of six and an author on parenting and faith issues who previously worked in the press offices of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Her news release said she has been endorsed by Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, former Supervisor Debbie Poochigian, Clovis Unified trustees Tiffany Stoker-Madsen, Clint Olivier, and Dr. Steven Fogg, former trustees Ginny Hovsepian and Sandy Budd, and former Superintendent Eimear O’Brien.

DeFrank’s competitor could be Wilma Tom Hashimoto, the executive director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Fresno/Madera Counties. Hashimoto announced her candidacy last week on former Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson’s #MilitantPositivity podcast.

Hashmoto had not filed as of Thursday.

Although the deadline to file in most races is Aug. 9, the deadline is extended five calendar days for races in which there is no incumbent.

In addition to David DeFrank’s Area 2 seat, Awtrey’s Area 4 seat, Moore’s Area 7 seat, and the Area 5 seat held by Fogg also is up for election in November.

Related Story: Clovis Unified Bond Measure Would Modernize 67-Year-Old School, Complete ...

Other School Board Races

In Fresno Unified, three of the seven trustee seats are up for election, but thus far only one incumbent has qualified for the ballot. Andy Levine is seeking re-election to the Fresno High Area seat after winning a short-term election two years ago.

James Martinez, who is a Fresno County School Board trustee, has declared his candidacy but had not qualified for the ballot as of Thursday. He held a campaign canvass in late June.

Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, the Roosevelt Area trustee, and Claudia Cazares, who represents the Hoover High Area, had not filed as of Thursday.

There is a challenger in the Hoover High race. Daniel Bordona, who worked for Fresno Unified as a teacher for three decades before his retirement, qualified for the ballot this week. His Facebook page says he has received the endorsement of the Fresno Teachers Association and SEIU. He has been campaigning since last October.

In Central Unified, no candidates have filed for the three seats that are up for election and are now held by Phillip Cervantes, Richard Solis, and Jeremy Mehling.

In Sanger Unified, incumbents have qualified for the ballot in three of the four trustee areas that are up for election. Area 1 incumbent Tamra “Tammy” Wolfe is facing a challenge from Ranetta Bron, a mother/rancher. Wolfe qualified for the ballot this week, as did fellow incumbents G. Brandon Vang and Ismael Hernandez Jr. who are thus far are unopposed in their bids for re-election to their Area 3 and Area 5 seats. Incumbent Va Pao Her’s Area 4 seat also is up for election.

State Center, County School Board, Bond Measures

In the State Center Community College District, only one incumbent has qualified for the ballot so far. Danielle Parra is running for re-election to Area 3 seat. Incumbents Nasreen Johnson (Area 2), Deborah Ikeda (Area 6), and Richard Caglia (Area 7) had not filed this week. Caglia says he will not seek reelection.

On the Fresno County Board of Education, three seats are up for election. Incumbent Allen Clyde has qualified to run in Area 5.

Incumbent Bryan Burton declared his candidacy but wasn’t yet qualified Thursday for the ballot. Itzi Robles, a staffer for Assemblyman Dr. Joaquin Arambula, filed paperwork to run for the seat now held by Martinez (Area 3) but was not yet qualified on Thursday. Incumbent Bryan Burton declared his candidacy to seek reelection to his Area 2 seat but also had not qualified on Thursday.

Local ballots will include bond measures for at least three of the four school districts serving the city of Fresno.

Clovis Unified trustees on Wednesday voted to put a $400 million bond measure on the ballot. Fresno Unified voters will decide on a $500 million bond measure, and Sanger Unified voters on a $175 million bond measure. Central Unified trustees could decide next week whether to put a $109 million bond measure on the ballot.

Related Story: Your Fresno Address Will Determine If a Yes Vote for a School Bond Raises Your ...