Mitchell and Zander both win CUHSD board seats
Becklund and Imamura edged out, second and third vote-getters are separated by slim margin
By Steven Raphael
In a highly contested race, incumbents Margie Mitchell and Henri Zander were reelected to the Campbell Union High School Board on Nov. 7, edging out Bob Becklund and Bradley Imamura.
Mitchell, 46, received the most votes, at 31.3 percent. She has been on the school board for the past two years, and has been involved in education for over 10 years. She is an account manager at Pacific Bell and has one son enrolled at Del Mar High School.
"Thank you to the public that supported me," Mitchell said. "I've enjoyed working these last years on the board, and I'm looking forward to the next four years."
Zander, 59, received 27.4 percent of the vote, barely edging out Becklund, who received 25.9 percent.
Zander, who works as a contractor, has been involved in public education for 26 years. He has been a board member for CUHSD, Union Elementary School District in San Jose, the Metropolitan District for adult education that serves central Silicon Valley, and president of Santa Clara County School Board Association. He, his wife and his daughter all graduated from CUHSD schools.
"I just want to thank the voters," he said. "We'll carry on with getting the schools in shape and making sure students continue to be successful."
Becklund, 73, wished Mitchell and Zander luck in their positions.
"Good luck to the winners," he said. "I put in a good effort and I'm sorry I lost. I guess I should have worked harder."
Imamura, 46, who received 15.3 percent of the vote, expressed concern over ongoing teacher negotiations.
"I hope the board will be able to resolve the contract situation with the teachers," he said. "As a parent, I'm very concerned."
The CUHSD board race was the only school board election on the Campbell ballot. The elections for Moreland and CUSD were not contested. For Moreland, two seats were available and both incumbents, Susan Zimmer and Frances Amin, ran unopposed.
The Campbell Union School Board opted to forgo their uncontested school board elections. Instead, at the Oct. 26 school board meeting, the board appointed the candidates to their respective positions.
There were four CUSD seats available: two standard four-year terms and two shortened, two-year terms. The two-year terms are for seats that belonged to board members who resigned mid-term.
Stephen Bevin and Nejleh Abed filled these positions temporarily, and both will hold their position for the remaining two years of the term. For the two full-term positions, incumbents Janet Johnson and Susan Meyer will also continue in office.
Campbell, California
