Don’t Get Bored by Board of Education Elections

2024 Voter Guide: Help the Better People Win

Tultican, the education blog penned by Thomas Ultican, is the source for most of the content here. He knows the education scene better than I do, and his essays are always well-researched and informative. I've added some commentary (which Thom is totally not responsible for) and a bit of formatting.

The people who would end our Democracy in their quest for power know that public education is a cornerstone for a well-informed electorate. Their schemes involve doing exactly what they condemn others for –once they seize power. 

This is how we end up with extremist politicians dictating curricula, classroom conduct, and funding. One only needs to look at Florida, where climate change, history, and sex education are either forgotten and mutilated to serve a minority point of view.    

Typically this starts with some form of accusation about public schools indoctrinating students. Once upon a time it was evolution –I suspect they’ll get back to that– now it’s sexuality.

It includes undermining public faith in a school system by challenging its funding sources (“eliminate the Department of Education”*), disrupting its societal functions (school nurses, libraries, and free meals), and insisting that there is a broader conspiracy keeping instruction from achieving excellence (usually attacks on unions, along with boycotts of education publishers).

Extremists are taking advantage of low interest political contests to put their people in charge, so it’s more important than ever for voters to be informed about their choices. The commentary and recommendations list here are focused on getting the best public servants elected.

*  I know the Department of Education is not a source of major funding for schools, but the general public often assumes this is the case.

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This year, unlike 2022, when several school board candidates appeared anti-public education and divisive, the current crop is mostly sincere public school advocates. Some do not have much insight into education while others are profoundly qualified to lead school districts. After evaluating the candidates for the County Board of Education and San Diego’s 10 largest school districts, the following recommendations were made.

San Diego County Board of Education

The only contested seat is district-4. Incumbents Gregg Robinson in district-1 and Guadalupe Gonzalez in district-2 are running unopposed. Districts 3 and 5 are not up this time around.

In district-4,Erin Evans and Sarah Song, are vying for the seat. Both are passionate educators but Evans has more experience and is now teaching at Mesa College. Recommended for County Board of Education district-4 is Erin Evans.

San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)

This year SDUSD has three of the five district seats on the ballot, district-A, district-D and district-E. Incumbents, Richard Barrera (district-D) and Sharon D. Whitehurst-Payne (district-E), are running unopposed.

In district-A , Sabrina Bazzo the incumbent is facing challenger Crystal Trull. Both women’s resumes show them to be highly qualified. Both the Democratic and Republican Parties have weighed in with Democrats endorsing Bazzo and Republicans endorsing Trull. 

The list of Bazzo endorsements is superior to Trull’s endorsements plus Bazzo’s four years on the board separates the two candidates. Recommended for SDUSD district-A is Sabrina Bazzo.

Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD)

The even numbered districts 2 and 4 are on the ballot this year. In district-2, Adrian E. Arancibia is facing off against Angelica Martinez. Not much is known about Angelica, but professor Arancibia is quite well known including being featured in a very positive La Prensa piece. He is also endorsed by the Democratic Party. Recommended for SUHSD district-2 is Adrian E. Arancibia.

District-4 has a matchup between Olga Espinoza and Rodolfo “Rudy” Lopez. Olga ran for the San Ysidro school district board and that campaign Facebook page is the only information about her. Rudy was a member of the San Ysidro school board and has a campaign Facebook page. Recommended for SUHSD district-4 is Rodolfo “Rudy” Lopez.

Poway Unified School District (PUSD)

There are two seats contested in PUSD, trustee area-A and trustee area-E. Area-A has a contest between Timothy Dougherty and Devesh Vashishtha. 

Tim’s web page presents a normal guy not out to burn down public education; his supporters, on the other hand, are a concern. Mike Allman has been a disruptive anti-teacher force in the San Dieguito district and Carl DeMaio with his organization Reform California has a long disruptive history. 

Doctor Vashishtha comes with an impressive list of endorsements including two currently serving PUSD board members, Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliff and Heather Plotzke. Recommended for PUSD trustee area-A is Devesh Vashishtha.

Trustee area-E has three candidates on the ballot, Craig Pond, David Cheng and incumbent Cindy Sytsma. David Cheng is listed on the ballot as an attorney and consumer advocate. Craig Pond is a software engineer from General Atomics and has a web page. Cindy is a wife, mother, former deputy sheriff and teacher, and currently a college professor. Recommended for PUSD trustee area-E is Cindy Sytsma.

Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD)

This district has contests in the even number districts 2 and 4. In district-2, incumbent Lucy Ugarte is challenged by Sharmane Estolano. Ugarte is a 28-year educator, union activist and has a long list of endorsements. Estolano is a member of the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce and is a real estate professional. She is endorsed by the Republican Party. Recommended for CVESD district-2 is Lucy Ugarte.

District-4’s race is odd. There are five candidates, incumbent Kate Bishop, Zenith Khan, Jesus F. Partida, Tanya Williams and board member Francisco Tamayo. 

Tamayo was re-elected to a four year term representing District-1 in 2022. In an unusual move, he is running against Bishop. If he loses Tamayo will remain district-1’s trustee. If he wins, the new board will have to select someone to fill the rest of his term in district-1. La Prensa has reported on this development. 

The Democratic Party, which endorsed Tamayo 2-years ago, labeled him unacceptable and endorsed Bishop. She has also been endorsed by Congressman Juan Vargas, State Senator Steve Padilla and Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre. 

Zenith Khan is a mother and teacher who is active in Democratic politics. Jesus Partida is a lawyer practicing in Chula Vista. Tanya Williams is principal at Courage Christian Academy and is endorsed by the Republican Party. Recommended for CVESD district-4 is Kate Bishop.

Vista Unified School District (VUSD)

In Vista, trustee areas 1, 4 and 5 are on the ballot. Amanda “Mandy” Remmen is running against Mike Markov for trustee area-1. Remmen is a long time PTA volunteer and president for the last two terms. Markov trained in Physics at UC Irvine holding a patent in drone technology. He is also a father of a Vista middle school student. He is endorsed by the Republican Party. Recommended for trustee area-1 is Mike Markov.

Trustee Area-4 has the only incumbent running for re-election, Cipriano Vargas. Opposing him are Frank Nunez and Zulema Gomez. Vargas is endorsed by the Democratic Party and many heavy hitters in the Party. Nunez is endorsed by The Republican Party. Gomez is a 15-year educator who stresses a bilingual approach. She is endorsed by school board members and Vista educators. Recommended for trustee area-4 is Zulema Gomez.

Anthony “TJ” Crossman is vying with Sue Martin for trustee area-5. Martin is a recently retired Vista Unified social studies teacher and is endorsed by the Democratic Party. Crossman is a Vista businessman who is endorsed by the Republican Party. Recommended for trustee area-5 is Sue Martin.

San Marco Unified School District (SMUSD)

Trustee areas A, B and D are up for election. In trustee area-A, Carlos Ulloa faces off with Heidi Herrick. Ulloa holds a doctorate in education, teaches in elementary school and lectures at San Diego State University. He is endorsed by the Democratic Party and is currently president of the SMUSD board. Heidi lists herself as parent and business owner. Recommended for trustee area-A is Caros Ulloa.

Trustee area-B has a contest between incumbent Sarah Ahmad and small business manager Brittany Bower. Ahmad, who works in the semiconductor industry, is endorsed by the San Marcos Educators Association and the Democratic Party. Brittany Bower is a project estimator for ServiceMaster EMT. Recommended for trustee area-B is Sarah Ahmad.

Incumbent Jamie Chamberlain is trying to fend off Lena Lauer Meum in trustee area-D. Chamberlain studied at the University of the Pacific, Hawaii where she earned and bachelor of business administration, international studies. She is endorsed by the Democratic Party. Meum, who earned a master of business education at California State University San Marcos, is pro-school choice. She is endorsed by the Republican Party. Recommended for trustee area-D is Jamie Chamberlain.

Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD)

Trustee areas 1 and 2 are being contested this year. Trustee area-1 has candidates, Azura Chrisawn (small business owner), Randall Dear (marine conservation educator), Chris Fite (incumbent and retired teacher) and Debra Harrington (community volunteer). Searches reveal almost no additional information about Chrisawn or Harrington. Randal Dear is endorsed by the Republican Party and Citizens for a Better East County reported giving him a contribution of $8,382 shown in an August 14 form 497 report. Dear’s understanding of what test data means is suspect. Recommended for trustee area-1 is Chris Fite.

Trustee area-2 has five candidates, Jay Steiger (public school teacher), Marsha J. Christman (community volunteer), Scott Eckert (public school teacher), Jim Stieringer (retired La Mesa treasurer) and Andrew Simmerman. Simmerman is a former Teach For America educator and works as a KIPP San Diego executive. Stieringer is a political game player who sent out a deceptive flyer associating himself, a life-long Republican, with progressives in 2020. Stieger is endorsed by the Democratic Party and has a very active campaign. Scott Eckert looks like a MAGA candidate endorsed by the Republican Party and just received a donation of $11,509 from Citizens for a Better East County. Recommended for trustee area-2 is Jay Steiger.

San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD)

This year the even numbered districts 2 and 4 are on the ballot. Trustee area-2 has parent and finance professional, Kelly Friis, running against the former Encinitas Union school board member and lawyer, Jodie Williams. Friis is endorsed by the Republican Party and Williams is endorsed by the Democratic Party. Both are talented professionals but Williams has more experience with education. Recommended for trustee area-2 is Jodie Williams.

San Dieguito trustee area-4 has incumbent, Michael Allman, being challenged by political consultant, educator and county health and quality board member, Kevin Sabellico. Allman has been a polarizing and disruptive force on the SDUHSD board since first elected in 2020. He is endorsed by the Republican Party. Sabellico says, “Teachers deserve to be supported, not attacked and vilified.” He calls for integrity and civility to be restored to the board and is endorsed by the Democratic Party. Recommended for trustee area-4 is Kevin Sabellico.

Escondido Union High School District (EUHSD)

In Escondido, four people are running for trustee areas 3 and 4. In trustee area-3, retired teacher, Clay Brown, is challenging incumbent Christi Knight. Brown stresses that he is an independent with deep understanding of how to run schools. The lightly educated, Knight, was appointed to the board in 2013 and has represented Area-3 ever since. Recommended for trustee area-3 is Clay Brown.

Escondido’s trustee area-4 is a matchup between incumbent, Ryan S. Williams, and executive coach, Dara Czerwonka. Czerwonka served on the San Pasqual Union School District board from 2018 to 2022 and she is endorsed by the Democratic Women’s Club of San Diego County and the Democratic Party. Before being appointed to the board in 2023, Williams studied manufacturing systems and earned an MBA at Brigham Young University. Recommended for trustee area-4 is Dara Czerwonka.

Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD)

Areas 2 and 5 are up for election this time around. In trustee area-2, Emily Wichmann is running to unseat incumbent Eleanor Evans. Wichmann ran for the County Board of Education in 2022 and was soundly defeated by Richard Shea. In her Facebook posts, Wichmann tacitly supports anti-LGBTQ attacks, backs standardized testing and promotes school choice. She is endorsed by the Republican Party. Evans is an education professional with deep ties to San Diego State. This teacher, counselor, and administrator is endorsed by the Democratic Party. Recommended for trustee area-2 is Eleanor Evans.

Trustee area-5 matches incumbent, Mike Blessing, against teacher, Rosie Higuera. Blessing was first elected to the board in 2008 after serving since the 1970s as Oceanside’s city manager. He is endorsed by the Democratic Party. Higuera has a wealth of experience as an educator however given the recent spurious attacks on public education her calls for “an environment free from discrimination, bullying, sexualization, and indoctrination” is a concern. She is endorsed by the Republican Party. Recommended for trustee area-5 is Mike Blessing.

About the Voter Guide.

I’ve been compiling voter guides for San Diegans for over a decade on various platforms. I have a progressive point of view tempered with life experience informing me of what’s possible and what’s bullshit. 

Portions of this guide will be published most weekdays throughout September. I’ll publish a comprehensive guide (with links if you care) on Monday of the week ballots are mailed out. (October 7)

Previously 

California Ballot Measures Two thru Six
California’s Proposition 32: Something’s Better Than Nothing, I Suppose
CA Proposition 33: Deja Vu All Over Again on Rent Control
Just Say No to CA Propositions 34 & 35
California Proposition 36: A Feel Good Measure for Fear Mongers
Local 2024 Ballot Measures in San Diego
Who Is San Diego Sending to Sacramento This Year?
Who Will Represent Us in Washington DC?
Faulconer Fronts for Developers, Aims for GOP Control
It’s Crunch Time for Mayor Todd Gloria -  San Diego City Elections

Next Up: Community College Boards 

Check your voter registration at  
https://www.sdvote.com/content/rov/en/voter-info-lookup.html