The race for Fresno County Superintendent of Schools is heating up with candidates hoping to impress voters with high-profile endorsements.

However, not all endorsements are ringing true for incumbent Dr. Michelle Cantwell-Copher and challenger Dr. Eimear O’Brien.

Cantwell-Copher named Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her, responsible for the largest local school district, as an endorser. She was listed in her official capacity, which would require School Board approval. Trustees never voted on the matter.

Additionally, Cantwell-Copher listed Mathias “Matty” Matoian, former CEO of OK Produce, and Elizabeth Laval, president of the Fresno Historical Society, as endorsers.

However, Superintendent Her, Matoian, and Laval told GV Wire they are neutral in the race.

“To avoid any inaccurate misrepresentation endorsing in her official capacity, on behalf of our board or district, Superintendent Her is staying neutral from endorsing any political candidate,” Fresno Unified PIO Adela Duncan told GV Wire.

O’Brien lists endorsements from former Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson and current Deputy Superintendent Ben Drati.

Nelson told GV Wire on Wednesday that he supports O’Brien’s efforts, but he didn’t fill out a form endorsing her. Later that day, Nelson said that he had decided to allow O’Brien to keep his endorsement.

Meanwhile, Drati told GV Wire that he is neutral in the race.

Alvarado’s Listed Endorsers Confirm Their Support

Dr. Johnny Alvarado is also challenging for the position, which provides oversight and support for the county’s 31 school district. All of Alvarado’s endorsers confirmed their support to GV Wire. But he has substantially fewer endorsements than Cantwell-Copher or O’Brien.

O’Brien questioned the short list, which noticeably did not include any of the seven superintendents that formerly employed Alvarado, at a GV Wire hosted forum Monday. He did not seek these endorsements out of respect for Cantwell-Copher, Alvarado said.

Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her Stays Neutral

Cantwell Copher procured an endorsement from Superintendent Her about a year ago, she told GV Wire. Her’s name has been listed on Cantwell Copher’s campaign website since then.

The incumbent superintendent assumed that Her previously endorsed her as an individual rather than in an official capacity. But Her’s name was listed alongside the Fresno Unified Superintendent title on Cantwell Copher’s website.

The district did not answer yes or no when asked if the superintendent had endorsed Cantwell-Copher but insisted that Her has remained neutral. Cantwell-Copher’s campaign could not produce any official form of endorsement for GV Wire.

On Tuesday, Cantwell Copher acknowledged that Her had reached out to clarify that she is neutral in the race.

Her’s name was removed from the website late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Additionally, Laval’s name is listed under endorsements, but she never endorsed any candidate. Her name is still posted.

“I am neutral in this campaign — actually all races due to my position as President of the Historical Society,” she told GV Wire in a text. “I shouldn’t be listed as supporting anyone.”

Cantwell-Copher expressed disappointment in the recent activity that she felt was “designed to discredit” and was “not conducive” to education efforts. She clarified that this disappointment didn’t extend to Superintendent Her, but the “attention that draws away from the good work that happens every day.”

Matoian Requests Name Removal

Matoian asked Cantwell-Copher to remove his name from her list of endorsements, but his name remains on the home page of her website.

He was placed on the endorsement list after donating to her campaign, he told GV Wire on Thursday. However, Matoian said he donated to all three candidates and wished to remain neutral.

Cantwell-Copher Backed by High-Profile County Leaders

Cantwell-Copher’s re-election effort has the support of such high-profile county leaders as Sheriff John Zanoni, Supervisor Buddy Mendes, and Supervisor Brian Pacheco.

“She is the only Superintendent who has consistently shown up for our community and our schools,” Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran told GV Wire. “Time and time again, she has been present at school events, supporting our students, families, and educators. Her commitment is not just words — it’s action.”

Ben Drati Explains Why He’s Now Neutral

Previously, O’Brien had secured endorsements in writing via text from Drati and Nelson but never had them sign an official form.

After Drati and Nelson confirmed neutrality with GV Wire, O’Brien offered to take them off the list. Soon after, Nelson changed his tune and decided to stick as an endorser.

Drati confirmed that he previously endorsed O’Brien as a private citizen. Now, in his current role, he is neutral.

But he was listed under his current title as Deputy Superintendent on O’Brien’s website. His name was recently removed off the endorsement list.

“I know Dr. O’Brien, and I had the opportunity to work with her at Clovis West while serving as principal, and we often collaborated around the work of education when we were both serving as superintendents at different districts,” Darti said in a statement to GV Wire. “In my current role as Deputy Superintendent of Fresno Unified, I will remain neutral in this race.”

O’Brien’s Campaign Features Big-Name Endorsers, Too

O’Brien has multiple big names that confirmed their endorsements with GV Wire. They include Mayor Jerry Dyer, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, Fresno City Councilmembers Mike Karbassi and Tyler Maxwell, and former Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Jim Yovino.