🗳️ Unofficial Election Results for O.C. School Board Races & Bond Measures
Unofficial election results show all nine school bond measures on their way to passing and some school board incumbents at risk of losing their seats.
Ballots for the Nov. 5, 2024 Presidential General Election are still being counted by election workers at the Orange County Registrar of Voters' office. It could be several days before we know the outcome of closer school board races, and there are a few contests that are very tight based on the latest update from 1:00 a.m. on Nov. 6.
Vote-by-mail ballots that were postmarked by Nov. 5 can arrive at the Registrar's office as late as Nov. 12 and still be counted. Election results must be certified by California's Secretary of State by Dec. 13.
Top Takeaways from Tuesday
School Bond Measures Leading
Nine public school districts across Orange County placed multi-million dollar bond measures on the Nov. 2024 ballot. They require support from 55% of voters to be approved. Per the latest election results, all nine are currently being supported by more than 55% of voters.
That's in addition to the statewide $10 billion school bond measure, Proposition 2, which currently has support from most California voters and only needs 50% of the vote to pass.
Close Contests
Two races for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education are extremely tight. The latest update shows incumbent Leah Ersoylu leading her opponent Robin Mensinger by a mere five votes for the Trustee Area 1 seat. In Trustee Area 3, incumbent Carol Crane is ahead of Philip Stemler by just 61 votes.
In the Cypress School District, longtime Trustee Candi Kern is currently trailing teacher Jaime Needham by just 59 votes.
In the Fullerton School District, current Board President Leonel Talavera is ahead of his opponent Vanesa Estrella by only 46 votes.
Most Incumbents Leading, but Not All
Kern and Talavera are not the only sitting board trustees at risk of losing their seats. While in most races the incumbents are leading their challengers, there are a few notable exceptions.
In the Fullerton School District, parent and FSD alumni James Cho has a commanding lead over incumbent Hilda Sugarman for Trustee Area 2. Cho's campaign focused on how Sugarman has been in office since his childhood, arguing it was time for something new.
In the Capistrano Unified School District, where two slates of candidates are vying for majority control of the seven-member board, two incumbents are currently trailing their opponents. In Trustee Area 1, incumbent Amy Hanacek is behind Jennifer Adnams by more than 1,000 votes. In Trustee Area 2, incumbent Michael Parham trails Lisa Zollinger by nearly 3,000 votes.
And in the Laguna Beach Unified School District, board trustee Jan Vickers, who was first elected in 2000, could lose her seat. She's in third place in the at-large election for two board positions behind Howard Hills and Sheri Morgan.
Scroll down to see results from all of the races for school boards and school bond measures across Orange County. The unofficial results are from the O.C. Registrar of Voter's website and represent the latest update from 1:00 a.m. on Nov. 6.
Stay with Spotlight Schools as we continue to track the election results impacting education in Orange County. Follow us on our Instagram account for the latest updates. Send us your feedback, story ideas, or questions by responding to this email or emailing hello@spotlightschools.com.
Yours in knowledge,
Jeannette Andruss, Co-founder of Spotlight Schools
Unofficial Election Results
Orange County School Board Races and School Bond Measures
Anaheim Elementary School District Board of Education
Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees
Measure K - AUHSD $496 Million Bond Measure
School bond measures require 55% of the vote to pass.
Brea Olinda Unified School District Board of Education
The Brea Olinda Unified School District Board of Education was scheduled to have three contests on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot. Elections were due to take place in Trustee Area 2, Trustee Area 3, and Trustee Area 5. In each contest, only one candidate filed qualifying paperwork to run so the candidates will be appointed to their seats per election law. Incumbents Deana Miller and Paul Ruiz will retain their positions. In Trustee Area 5, Joseph Covey will succeed incumbent Gail Lyons, who did not run for reelection.
Measure H - BOUSD $160 million Bond Measure
School bond measures require 55% of the vote to pass.
Buena Park School District Board of Education
An election for Trustee Area 4 was also scheduled to take place on Nov. 5 but no one filed paperwork to run, including incumbent Brenda Estrada. At a board meeting in late October, Estrada was appointed to the seat for the next term through 2028.
Measure M - BPSD $84 Million Bond Measure
School bond measures require 55% of the vote to pass.
Capistrano Unified School District Board of Education
Centralia Elementary School District Board of Education
An election for Trustee Area 4 was also scheduled for the November ballot following former board member Lamiya Hoque’s resignation. Only one person filed qualifying paperwork to run for the position. Per election law, the candidate Ahsanul Hoque, will automatically be installed in the seat. Spotlight Schools is told Hoque is the father of the former board trustee.
Cypress School District Board of Trustees
Fountain Valley School District Board of Trustees
Fullerton School District Board of Trustees
Measure N - Fullerton School District $262 Million Bond Measure
School bond measures require 55% of the vote to pass.
Fullerton Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees
The Fullerton Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees was scheduled to have two races on the November 5, 2024 ballot but only the incumbents in each contest filed qualifying paperwork to run. In Trustee Area 2, Joanne Fawley will keep her seat. In Trustee Area 3, Vicki Calhoun will retain her position.
Measure L – FJUHSD $284 Million Bond Measure
School bond measures require 55% of the vote to pass.
Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education
An election in Trustee Are 3 of the GGUSD was set to be on the Nov. 4 ballot but only incumbent Walter Muneton filed qualifying paperwork to run so he will retain his seat.
Huntington Beach City School District Board of Trustees
The seat representing Trustee Area 3 was also scheduled to be on the 2024 ballot, but only the incumbent, Ann Sullivan, filed qualifying paperwork to run so she will retain the seat.
Huntington Beach Union High School District Board of Education
An election was also due to happen in the HBUHSD Trustee Area 2, but only one candidate filed qualifying paperwork to run. Per election law, the candidate, Christine Hernandez, will get the seat.
Irvine Unified School District Board of Education
The Irvine Unified School District Board of Education was scheduled to have three contests on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot. Elections were due to take place in Trustee Area 1, Trustee Area 3, and Trustee Area 5. In each contest, only one candidate filed qualifying paperwork to run so the candidates will be appointed to the seats per election law. Incumbents Lauren Brooks and Cyril Yu will retain their seats. In Trustee Area 5, Connie Consuelo Stone will take the seat as incumbent Paul Bokota did not run.
La Habra City School District Board of Education
Measure O – La Habra City School District $73 Million Bond Measure
School bond measures require 55% of the vote to pass.
Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education
Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education
Incumbent Chris Forehan was the only person to file qualifying paperwork to run for the seat to represent Trustee Area 2. He will be appointed to the seat per election law, according to the O.C. Registrar of Voters.
Lowell Joint School District Board of Education
(LJSD’s boundaries cover parts of Orange County and Los Angeles County.)
An election for Trustee Area 1 in the LJSD was scheduled to be on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot but only Regina Woods filed qualifying paperwork to run. King will be appointed to the seat per election law.
Measure P – Lowell Joint School District $54 Million Bond
School bonds require 55% of the vote to pass.
Magnolia School District Board of Trustees
The Magnolia School District Board of Trustees was scheduled to have three contests on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot. Elections were due to take place in Trustee Area 1, Trustee Area 3, and Trustee Area 4. In each contest, only one candidate filed qualifying paperwork to run so the candidates will be appointed to the seats per election law.
Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education
Ocean View School District Board of Trustees
Orange Unified School District Board of Education
The incumbents in Trustee Area 2 and Trustee Area 6 did not run for reelection. And only one person in each contest filed qualifying paperwork to run. Per election law, Sierra Vane will be appointed to represent Trustee Area 2 and Matthew Thomas will be appointed to represent Trustee Area 6.
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Education
Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Education
Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education
Measure I – Santa Ana USD $355 Million Bond
School bond measures require 55% of the vote to pass.
Savanna School District Board of Trustees
Two races for the Savanna School District Board of Trustees were scheduled to be on the November 5, 2024 ballot. Only the incumbents in Trustee Area 4 and Trustee Area 5 turned in qualifying paperwork to run for their seats. Per election law, Chris Brown and Christina "Tina" Karanick will retain their board positions.
Tustin Unified School District Board of Education
Measure J – Tustin Unified School District $261 Million Bond
School bond measures require 55% of the vote to pass.
Westminster School District Board of Trustees
The Westminster School District Board of Education was scheduled to have two races on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot. Elections were due to take place in Trustee Area 1 and Trustee Area 4. In each contest, only the incumbents filed qualifying paperwork to run. David Johnson and Frances Nguyen will retain their seats, per election law.