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Who's Off to a Strong Start in Raising Money for Fresno Area School Board Races?
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 weeks ago on
August 5, 2025

School board elections across Fresno and Clovis are more than a year away, but early campaign fundraising is already underway. (GV Wire Composite)

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Fundraising for the three major school boards that represent Fresno and Clovis is off to a slow start for many candidates.

However, a few candidates are flexing early strength with contributions from businesses, labor unions, and other politicians.

Any candidate who raised funds for the first six months of 2025 is required to report how much money they raised and the sources of those funds.

Voters will elect school board members Nov. 3, 2026. Here’s a look at campaign finance reports for candidates with Fresno Unified, Clovis Unified and Central Unified.

Fresno Unified

Four positions are up for re-election in November 2026.

Susan Wittrup raised $17,262 for the first six months of 2025. Sherri Gibson, a retired clinical psychologist, contributed $10,000. Wittrup received $5,000 from Material Movers Inc. — a Clovis-based trucking company owned by Bart Jones.

Valerie Davis reported raising $1,800 — based on two-self contributions of $900 each.

Veva Islas raised $2,300, in three separate loans to herself.

Keshia Thomas is not running for re-election in Area 1. She has closed her account, and is running for Fresno City Council in 2026.

However, three other board members who are not up for re-election reported fundraising activity.

Andy Levine — who won re-election in 2024 — raised $13,811, but spent more to cover costs — mainly $15,000 to consultant Pablo Ramirez. Levine gave himself $5,000. Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula contributed $1,000 from his campaign account.

Claudia Cazares — also a 2024 re-election winner — raised $7,350. Most of it ($4,750) came from various labor unions. Fellow trustee Davis gave $200, with Fresno City Councilmembers Annalisa Pera ($250) and Tyler Maxwell ($1,000) also contributing. She paid $4,000 to consultant Jason Carns.

Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas terminated her school board account last December.

No other candidate filed paperwork to raise funds.

Fresno Unified School Board fundraising, Jan.-June 2025
Fresno Unified School Board fundraising, Jan.-June 2025 (GV Wire Chart)

Clovis Unified

Only two trustees reported fundraising activity in 2025.

Clint Olivier is the only of three Clovis Unified School Board members up for re-election in 2026 to report fundraising this year. His District 1 comprises areas generally north of Herndon Avenue, and west of Maple Avenue.

He reported $450 in loans to himself.

Deena Combs-Flores and Tiffany Stoker Madsen do not have active 2026 accounts.

Of the four who won re-election in 2024, only Trustee Hugh Awtrey has filed. He reported a single contribution of $1,000 from C-111 Construction. He represents the east-central part of the district.

Clovis Unified School Board fundraising, Jan.-June 2025
Clovis Unified School Board fundraising, Jan.-June 2025 (GV Wire Chart)

Central Unified

Four trustees whose terms expire in 2026, do not have active campaign accounts — Joshua Sellers (Area 1), Yesenia Carrillo (Area 2), Nabil Kherfan (Area 4), and Naindeep Singh (Area 7).

Only one trustee has an active fundraising account.

Jaspreet Sidhu, who won election in 2024, did not raise any funds in 2025, but reports $5,723 cash on hand.

Singh gave himself $3,420 to cover 2025 expenses. He then closed his account. He plans to run for Fresno City Council in 2026.

Central Unified School Board fundraising, Jan.-June 2025
Central Unified School Board fundraising, Jan.-June 2025 (GV Wire Chart)

State Center Community College District

Only two of the three trustees with seats expiring in 2026 have active campaign accounts.

Destiny Rodriguez loaned herself $2,000, the only fundraising thus far for 2025. Magdalena Gomez loaned herself $1,500 for the year. She has nearly $25,000 cash on hand.

Robert Fuentes, with a seat expiring in 2026, raised more than $7,400 to pay expenses before terminating his account. He plans to run for Fresno City Council in 2026.

Danielle Parra — a 2024 re-election winner — also terminated her campaign account. She transferred more than $20,000 to her account for Fresno County Supervisor in 2026.

Deborah Ikeda has not formed a fundraising committee for 2028, nor reported any 2025 funds. Roger Bonakdar, a Fresno attorney and 2024 Fresno City Council candidate, has a 2028 SCCCD fundraising committee. He moved $29,000 from an unsuccessful 2024 city council campaign account into his new campaign.

State Center Community College District fundraising, Jan.-June 2025
State Center Community College District fundraising, Jan.-June 2025 (GV Wire Chart)

Superintendent Fundraising

Michelle Cantwell-Copher is running for re-election for Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. She has competition, from fromer Clovis Unified Superintendent Eimear O’Brien.

Cantwell-Copher posted raising $34,100 in 2025, with $43,890 cash on hand. Her biggest contributor is Prodigy Health ($5,000).

O’Brien raised $41,492, with $35,094 cash on hand. The Cook Family LP contributed $5,000. Former superintendent Jim Yovino contributed $2,845 leftover from his campaign account.

Developer and frequent campaign donor Richard F. Spencer gave to both campaigns — $10,000 to O’Brien and $2,500 to Cantwell-Copher.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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