Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Some school boards will change without elections

By Michelle Alaimo

A truckload of school board seats are up for grabs within Los Gatos, but some districts won't have much of a race at all. In all, a total of 16 full-term seats and one short-term seat need to be filled in five districts with schools in Los Gatos.

Many of those running for election are not incumbents, and in some cases, there is no race at all because the number of candidates equals the number of seats that are open. According to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voter, those candidates are automatic winners and won't be placed on the ballot.

Ron Adolphson, who was one of three people running for three seats in the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, said this is the first time in eight years serving on various boards that he has not had to run a campaign.

"It's one of those rare times when everyone is satisfied," Adolphson said, referring to the limited number of people running. New faces on the board will be Cynthia Chang, who is finishing a four-year term on the Saratoga Union School District board, and Philip Nielson. Incumbents Bob Allen and Nancy Crampton are not seeking re-election.

A similar situation occurred in the Union School District, with the three incumbents--Cyndy Goodsell, Janice Hector and Richard J. Salciccia--holding onto their seats.

And in the Lakeside Joint School District, only incumbents filed, which means Pam Stokes, Les McClane, Steve Kling and Theresa Drew will remain on the board.

However, those living in the Los Gatos Union School District will have to choose who will fill three open seats. Incumbents Steve Glickman and Thomas P. O'Donnell are running for re-election. Others with their eye on a LGUSD board seat are Barry Bakken, Andrew Fanelli and Brian P. Grasser. Incumbent Bruce Berwarld is not seeking re-election.

In the Loma Prieta Joint Union School District, a short-term seat will be automatically filled by Art Hunt. Incumbent Lisa Barca-Hall won't seek re-election for her short-term seat. Incumbents Richard Hagedorn and Dennis Heimer will not run again. Richard Lyness, Ed Garcia, Margaret Binter, Tina Graham, Wayne Heimsoth and incumbent Rick Parfitt vie for three seats.

The West Valley College district has two seats in Trustee Area 1. Maxine Sanders and Arne Lunde are not seeking reelection. Candidates are Saratoga Mayor Donald Wolfe, Douglas B. Allen, Ryan Iwanaga and Jeffrey Schwartz.

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