Do Fresno Unified voters want a big change of course for the scandal-ridden school district, to stay the course, or something in between?

Based on Tuesday night’s early election returns, with 12.66% of ballots counted, the answer is leaning toward big changes.

In a high-profile race that drew five candidates, Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias led for the Edison High region trustee seat with 42.19% of the vote.

Retired educator Darren Miller was second with 18.93%, and educator and rancher Ripzah Bellard had 15.19%.

Michelle Escobar Longoria, who founded Voz de Futuro, a bilingual education program, was next with 13.31%. Educator and nonprofit founder Deshunna Monay Ricks had 10.21%.

Arias Challenges the Status Quo

Arias entered the contest to determine the successor to Keshia Thomas, who is running for the Fresno City Council, and immediately promised to hold Fresno Unified leadership accountable for quickly raising student achievement.

With the district facing ongoing budget challenges, Arias also vowed to trim the district’s leadership team and ensure that funding first went to classrooms and student support. He also criticized the district’s failure to investigate student deaths and pointed to a long line of lawsuits against the district as evidence of incompetence.

Arias touted his knowledge of the district, having previously been Fresno Unified’s chief information officer. In addition, he earlier served as a Mendota Unified trustee.

Bellard’s pitch to voters centered on early childhood literacy and building connections between the district and residents.

Miller, who had the endorsement of the Fresno County Democratic Party, also campaigned on strengthening the district’s early literacy efforts. And he pitched the idea of separating transitional kindergarten through second grade into their own campuses.

Ricks had the backing of the Central Valley Progressive PAC. Ricks said she wanted to increase Career Technical Education offerings and paid internships. She also stressed the importance of improving the district’s early literacy efforts.

Davis vs. Talford for Sunnyside High Region Seat

The Fresno Teachers Association and SEIU went all in on Riley Talford’s bid to unseat 22-year trustee Valerie Davis from her Sunnyside High region seat.

However, with 15.89% of ballots counted, Davis led, 53.50% to 45.86%.

Through Oct. 28, Talford’s campaign had received more than $60,000 in contributions. In addition, union canvassers knocked on doors and touted their candidates in the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s election.

Talford is a supervising juvenile correctional officer for Fresno County Probation and SEIU 521 Fresno County president. He also coaches basketball at Edison High School. He ran on a campaign of improving educational attainment by listening to what teachers had to say. Talford also said he would cut administrative positions before touching classroom funds in the face of budget deficits.

Davis had raised about $42,000 through Oct. 28 in her re-election bid. She ran a low-profile campaign touting her years of experience and elevation this year to chair of the Council of Great City Schools board of directors. She has served four terms as Fresno Unified School Board president.

Davis, who was born and raised in Fresno, attended Fresno Unified schools and graduated from Bullard High School in 1977.

She is regarded as a strong ally of Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her.

Islas Faces Off Against Two Challengers in McLane High Region

Veva Islas, who was first elected as trustee in 2018, pointed to her efforts to expand CTE and renovations made to McLane High School as reasons for voters to reward her with another four years on the board.

In early returns, Islas trailed Karen Steed, 39.87% to 33.40%. Mirna Garcia was third with 26.32%.

Islas also said district leaders must involve parents more in their decision-making and trustees must cast a more critical eye at renewing charter schools. Charter schools, she said, are drawing students away from Fresno Unified.

Her top donor was the Sandra Celedon for Assembly 2026 Committee with $17,110.09.

Steed finished second to Islas in their close 2022 race. She emphasized bringing transparency to the board’s actions. A former teacher and a clerk with the city of Fresno, she said the School Board would benefit by having a trustee with a teacher’s perspective. She also called for improved security on district campuses.

Garcia is a Realtor and grew up in an immigrant farmworker family. She criticized the district for being top-heavy with administrators and wants to see more funding to support students facing learning and social-emotional challenges.

She had the endorsement of The Young Democrats and received a $5,000 donation from the Perea for Assembly 2026 Committee.