Across the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas, several school board governing seats are up for grabs.
Whoever wins those seats will face several concerns, ranging from declining enrollment and state funding issues to how that funding should be allocated within a given district.
They’ll also be making policy on how to keep campuses safe and how to maintain and upgrade aging facilities.
Voters are weighing in Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Here are the community college and school district board races in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas up for grabs Tuesday.
The initial round of results were composed entirely of vote-by-mail ballots that arrived before Election Day.
The second round, scheduled to be released shortly after the first, were set to include vote center ballots that were cast before Election Day.
Subsequent election night updates from the Los Angeles County registrar’s office would include ballots cast at vote centers on Election Day. The semi-official results, set to be released late Tuesday or early Wednesday, would include all of the ballots cast at vote centers on Election Day.
After that, the registrar’s office must tally vote-by-mail ballots that were cast by Election Day but had not yet arrived, as well as conditional and provisional ballots, before confirming the election results.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS
Citrus Community College, Governing Board, Trustee Area No. 5
Fernando Villegas, a commissioner and educator; Virginia Villegas, a nurse practitioner and educator; and Randa B. Wahbe, a professor, are running for the seat in the Glendora community college, which serves five communities including Azusa, Claremont, Duarte, Glendora and Monrovia.
In early returns, Wahbe appeared to lead the race with 44.81% of the vote, followed by Villegas with 30.48% and Villegas, 24.71.
Mt. San Antonio Community College District, Governing Board, Trustee Area 5
Joseph K. Chang, a professor, is challenging Jay Chen, a governing board member for the seat.
In early returns, Chen appears to have the lead with 69.40% of the votes counted. The challenger Chang gained 30.60% of the votes.
LIVE ELECTION RESULTS: See a chart of the latest vote count
Rio Hondo Community College, Governing Board, Trustee Area 4
Kristal Orozco, a governing board member, is facing a challenge from Gary Mendez, instructor/school boardmember.
In early returns, Orozco had 57.85% of the votes compared to Mendez with 42.15%.
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Baldwin Park Unified School District Governing Board
There are 10 candidates running for four seats in Baldwin Park Unified. One of the 4 seats is a special election for an unexpired seat.
Baldwin Park Unified School District, Governing Board, special election, unexpired seat
Annalynn C. Apolinario, appointed incumbent, is challenging Norma Olmos, parent/city commissioner, for the unexpired term seat that is ending on Dec. 11, 2026.
In early returns, the race appears close, with Olmos gaining 51.97% of the votes and Apolinario at 48.03%.
Baldwin Park Unified School District, Governing Board Member
There are eight candidates running for three seats on the Baldwin Park Unified Governing Board. Three of the candidates are incumbents. Voters are asked to vote for no more than 3 candidates.
In the running are Christina M. Lucero, incumbent; Diana Miranda-Dzib, incumbent; Santos Hernandez Jr., incumbent; Ricardo Vazques, teacher; Yvonne S. Juarez, teacher/parent; Kevin Patrick Rooney, retired baker (cq); Jose Mari Mata, educator/school administrator; Itzel Guadalupe Herrera, no occupation listed (cq).
In early returns, Vazquez appeared to have the lead with 18.51%; followed by Juarez at 17.25%; Lucero, 16.01%; Mata, 15.71%; Miranda-Dzib, 12.51%; Hernandez, 11.20%; Rooney, 4.79% and Herrera closing out the tabulations with 4.02%.
Bassett Unified School District, Governing Board Member
The race for Bassett Unified School District pits two incumbents against two challenges for two at-large seats. Voters are asked to vote for no more than two candidates.
Norma Gonzalez, special education teacher; Samuel W. Brown, community organizer; Dena Florez, board president, Bassett Unified School District; Armando Barajas, governing board member, Bassett Unified School District
In early returns, Florez appears to have the lead with 31.37% of the votes; followed by Gonzalez with 29.14%; Barajas with 24.94% and Brown with 14.55%.
Bonita Unified School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 4
Greg Palatto, board member, Bonita Unified School District, is being challenged by Eli J. Tirado, retired systems analyst
In early returns, the incumbent Palatto appears to be leading with 72.16% of the votes, edging out Tirado with 27.84% of votes.
Bonita Unified School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 5
Brittany Allison, nonprofit executive/parent, is running against Mark Arvidson, professor/parent/businessman, for the seat.
In early returns, Allison appears to have the lead with 56.29% of the vote, with Arvidson second with 43.71%.
Claremont Unified School District, Governing Board, Trustee Area 5
Cheryl Fiello, businesswoman, and Mark Reynoso, businessman/parent/coach, are vying for the seat.
In early returns, Fiello had 56.75% of the vote, followed by Reynoso with 43.25%.
Covina-Valley Unified School District, Governing Board, Trustee Area 1
Sue L. Maulucci, incumbent, is being challenged by Steve Bennett, businessman/area manager, for the seat.
In early returns, Maulucci appears to have the lead with 56.24% compared with Bennett with 43.76% of the vote.
Covina-Valley Unified School Board, Governing Board, Trustee Area 3
Barbara Campos, no occupation listed (cq), is running against Maria Elizabeth Cruz, social work doctor for the seat.
In early returns, Cruz appears to have the lead at 52.91% of the vote, followed by Campos with 47.09%.
Covina-Valley Unified School District, Governing Board, Trustee Area 5
Maria M. Caceres, teacher/governing board member, is being challenged by Jason Cook, small business owner for the seat.
In early returns, Caceres had 67.05% of the vote. Cook was in second with 32.95%.
Duarte Unified School District, Governing Board, Trustee Area 1
Laura Jasso, educator, and Tonette Parker Reyes, retired claims examiner, are vying for the seat.
In early returns, Jasso appeared to have a healthy lead with 77.58% of the vote. Parker Reyes had 22.42% of the vote.
Duarte Unified School District, Governing Board, Trustee Area 2
James Finlay, president of the Duarte Board of Education, is running for re-election to the school board, challenging Ceci Escarcega Carroll, governing board member, Duarte USD, for the seat.
In early returns, Finlay appeared to be leading with 68.01% of the vote, followed by Escarcega Carroll running second with 31.99%.
Duarte Unified School District, Governing Board, Trustee Area 3
Tom N. Reyes, small business owner, is challenging incumbent Eddie Howard, compliance officer.
In early returns, Reyes appeared to have a narrow lead with 51.90%, followed by Howard at 48.10%.
El Rancho Unified School District, Governing Board Member
Three candidates are running for 2 seats on the El Rancho Unified School District Board. Voters are asked to vote for no more than two candidates.
Incumbent Arlene Perez, governing board member, El Rancho USD, is being challenged for one of the 2 seats by Christine Saavedra, outreach manager/parent; and Kenia G. Islas, education advocate/parent.
In early returns, Perez appeared to be the leader with 43.04%, followed by Saavedra at 31.50% and Islas with 25.46% of the vote.
Glendora Unified School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 4
Daniel R. Cayem, psychologist/parent/professor, is challenging incumbent Elizabeth Reuter, board member, for the seat.
In early returns, Cayem appeared to have the lead with 57.02% of the vote. Reuter was in second with 42.98%.
Glendora Unified School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 5
Michael J. Munoz, parents rights attorney, is challenging Robin Merkley, appointed, governing board member.
In early returns, Munoz had 54.07% and Merkley had 45.93% of the vote.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, Governing Board, Trustee Area 1
Joyce Garcia, parent/school manager, is vying for the seat against Stephanie Serrano, social worker/parent.
In early returns, Garcia appeared to have the lead with 52.55%, followed by Serrano with 47.45% of the vote.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, Governing Board, Trustee Area 3
In this race, Adriana Quinones, no occupation listed, is challenging incumbent Christine Helen Salazar, board president/parent.
In early returns, Quinones appeared to have the lead with 51.41% of the vote, followed by Salazar with 48.59% of the vote.
Montebello Unified School District, Governing Board
There are 5 candidates running for a seat on the Montebello Unified School District board. Two of the 5 candidates are incumbents. Voters are asked to vote for no more than 2 candidates.
In the running are Lisa M. Ibanez, college professor; Joanna L. Barreras, university professor/researcher; Elizabeth Cabrera, governing board member, Montebello Unified School District; Liliana Magana, governing board member, Ontebello Unified School District; and Aaron Reveles, public school teacher.
In early returns, Magana appeared to have the lead with 29.60% of the vote. Coming in second in early returns was Cabrera with 26.05%; followed by Ibanez at 18.25%; Reveles at 13.39%; and Barreras with 12.72% of the vote.
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School Board, Governing Board, Trustee Area 1
Esperanza “Espie” Free, mother/educator/businesswoman, is running against Miguel Rivera, school counselor.
In early returns, Free had 54.23% of the vote, followed by Rivera, who had 45.77%.
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School Board, Governing Board, Trustee Area 3
Christopher Joe Garcia, business owner/father, is challenging the incumbent Jose M. Rios, school board president.
In early returns, Rios appeared to be leading with 64.84%, followed by challenger Garcia who had 35.16% of the vote.
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School Board, Governing Board, Trustee Area 7
David Constantine, father/entrepreneur, is running against Becky Langenwalter, mother/businesswoman.
In early returns, Langenwalter appeared to be leading with 54.23% followed by Constantine with 45.77% of the vote.
Pasadena Unified School District, Board of Education, District 2
Incumbent Jennifer Hall Lee, PUSD board of education member, is facing a challenge by Juan Carlos Perez, business executive.
In early returns, Lee appeared to have the lead with 72.35%, followed by Perez, who had 27.65% of the vote.
Pasadena Unified School District, Board of Education, District 4
Scott Harden, strategic planner, is running unopposed.
In early returns, he earned 100% of the vote.
Pasadena Unified School District, Board of Education, District 6
Incumbent Tina Wu Fredericks, PUSD board of education member, is being challenged by Lisa Kroese, project manager/Realtor.
In early returns, Fredericks appeared to be leading Kroese with 62.15% of the vote, compared to Kroese with 37.85%.
Pomona Unified School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 2
Alfredo Camacho, education policy director, is vying for the seat against Tamara Gonzalez, education director/professor.
In early returns, Gonzales appears to be leading the race with 64.92% of the vote, followed by Camacho with 35.08% of the vote.
Pomona Unified School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 3
Angel David Arellano, community volunteer, is challenging incumbent Arturo Jimenez, board member president, Pomona Unified School District, Trustee Area 3.
In early returns, Jimenez appeared to be leading with 72.87% of the vote. Arellano had 27.13% of the vote.
Rowland Unified School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 4
In the running are Yvette Romo, educator, and Ellen Yoonchung Park, public educator/principal.
In early returns, Park appears to have the lead with 54.18% of the vote, followed by Romo with 45.82%.
HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS
El Monte Union High School District, Governing Board member, Trustee Area 2
Esthela Torres De Siegrist, college professor, is running against Luis G. Guzman, child adolescent psychologist.
In early returns, De Siegrist appeared to have the lead with 52.14% of the vote. Guzman was in second with 47.86% of the vote.
Whittier Union High School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 2
Incumbent Jaime Lopez, workforce specialist/boardmember, is being challenged by Magdalena Maggie Barragnon Moe, business woman.
In early returns, Lopez appeared to have a wide lead with 70.14% followed by Barragnon Moe with 29.86% of the vote.
Whittier Union High School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 3
Francis Carbajal, city commissioner, is challenging Josefina Elizabeth Canchola, appointed, governing board member, Whittier Union High School District, Trustee Area 3
In early returns, Canchola appeared to be leading with 64.27%, followed by Carbajal with 35.73% of the vote.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Garvey School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 2
Candidates for this race are John H. Nuñez, educational advocate and Sydney Susie Cubas, broker/office manager.
In early returns, Nunez appeared to be leading with 70.77% of the vote. Cubas was in second with 29.23% of the vote.
Rosemead School District, Governing Board Member
There are 3 candidates running for 2 seats on the Rosemead School District board. Two candidates are incumbents.
Voters are asked to vote for no more than 2 candidates.
Jonathan Smith, small business owner, is vying for one of the seats held by incumbents Ron Esquivel, governing board member, Rosemead School District, and Veronica Pena, governing board member, Rosemead School District.
In early returns, Pena appeared to have the lead with 42.65% of the vote, followed by Esquivel at 39.05% and Smith with 18.31% of the vote.
Whittier City School District, Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 1
Incumbent Caro Jauregui, board president, Whittier City School District, is being challenged by Larry Batista, mechanical engineer/parent.
In early returns, Jauregui appeared to be leading with 64.87% of the vote. Batista was in second with 35.13% of the vote.
Whittier City School District, Governing Board member, Trustee Area 2
Incumbent Elizabeth Leon, governing board member, Whittier City School District, Trustee Area 2, is being challenged by Lloyd S. Reed, district sanitation worker
In early returns, Leon appeared to be leading with 74.29% of the vote. Reed had 25.71% of the vote.
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