Twenty-eight trustee spots contested in November election
Thirteen Merced County school districts have governing board races on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. Fifty-six candidates are vying for 28 trusteeships in the election.
Trustee races are being held for Merced College, Ballico-Cressey, Delhi, Dos Palos, Gustine, Hilmar, Le Grand, Livingston, Los Banos, Merced City, Merced River and Merced Union High School districts.
Most of the electoral contests are for four-year terms.
MERCED COLLEGE
William Hamilton, a lab technician, is running against Dennis Jordan in Area 4. In Area 7, retired instructional technician Leonel Villarreal is running against Daniel Kazakos, a chief executive officer.
BALLICO-CRESSEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Four people are running for three openings on the Ballico-Cressey board. Eric Harcksen, a farmer, is running against incumbent Jana Nairn; former board member Thomas S. March; and Xochitl French, a paralegal.
DELHI UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Thirteen people are running for four vacancies on the Delhi school board. The candidates are Eduardo Arroyo; Jewelee Hotchkiss, an educator; incumbents Brenda Saavedra and Vidal Preciado and appointed incumbent Eric Castillo; Enedina Ruiz, an educator; Jesus Rodriguez, a counselor; Andres Garza III, a student; Laronna Talai White, a parent; Terri Lynn Young, a businesswoman; Maggie Reyes, a parent; Lee Scott Ridge, an educator; and Zeke Nelson, a pastor.
DOS PALOS-ORO LOMA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Six people are running for three slots on the Dos Palos board. Incumbents Richard Hogue and Philip Joseph Miller and challengers Fred Coronado and Marilyn Cox, retired school employees; Andrew Montez, a district employee; and Allison Davis, a human relations coordinator, are in the running.
GUSTINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Two people are seeking election for one position in Area 1 on the Gustine school board. They are incumbent Christine Souza Parreira and Crickett M. Brinkman, a businesswoman.
In Area 5, Lettie Borelli, a farmer, is running against Nancy Bonta, a retired licensed day care employee.
HILMAR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Five people are seeking two positions on the Hilmar school board. They are incumbent Rob Machado; Lisa A. Souza, an agriculture professional; Rosemary Vitorino Silveira, an office manager; Danny Rocha, a businessman; and Anne Almeida, a business owner.
LE GRAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Two people are seeking the Area 5 seat on the Le Grand elementary school board. They are business owner Emily Palmer and Freddie R. Chavez, a social worker.
LE GRAND UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Three people are seeking two openings on the Le Grand high school board. They are incumbent David Serrano; Fernando Nava; and Julie S. Giampaoli, an office manager.
LOS BANOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Two people are seeking the Area 1 seat on the Los Banos board. Incumbent Dennis Areias and Frederick D. Todd, a master mechanic, are the candidates.
In Area 3, incumbent Andree A. Soares is being challenged by registered nurse Marlene Smith for the one available seat.
In Area 7, Ruben Santos, a retired teacher, is challenging incumbent John Mueller.
LIVINGSTON UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
Two people are seeking one position on the Livingston school board. They are Yolanda Pulida-Correia, a homemaker and property manager; and Michael McGuire, a writer.
MERCED CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
In Area 3 on the district’s Board of Education, incumbent Adam Cox is being challenged by Priya Lakireddy, a homemaker.
MERCED RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT
Three people are competing for two seats on the Merced River school board. George Soares Jr. and Robert Gamble Jr., appointed incumbents, are being challenged by Lorrie McDowell, a retired district secretary.
MERCED UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
In Area 1, incumbent Ida Johnson is being challenged by businessman Greg Opinski and Mary I. Mercado, a retired classified employee.
In Area 5, incumbent William G. Snyder III is being challenged by Richard Lopez, a school administrator.
This story was originally published October 16, 2014 at 7:50 PM with the headline "Twenty-eight trustee spots contested in November election."