Voting is underway in a special CVUSD election to fill three Board Trustee seats, prompted by ballot omissions in the November election. Six candidates are running, facing scrutiny and endorsements amid contested races. Mail-in ballots were distributed to voters, emphasizing voter participation ahead of the March 4 election.
Voting has commenced in a special election for the Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) in Imperial County, where residents will elect members to the Board of Trustees for four-year terms. The election became necessary after approximately 2,400 ballots in the November 5 general election omitted three contested trustee races. Mail-in ballots were distributed to registered voters on February 3 for the election set for March 4.
In total, six candidates are competing for three Board seats on the seven-member CVUSD Board of Education amidst a challenging landscape for the District. The candidates include:
1. Trustee Area 1 (Coachella): Agustín Arreola challenges incumbent Trinidad “Trini” Arredondo, who was first elected in 2020.
2. Trustee Area 2 (Thermal): Altrena Santillanes is challenging Jesus Gonzalez, also a board member since 2020.
3. Trustee Area 4 (Mecca and North Shore): Adrian Rodriguez takes on incumbent Jocelyn Vargas, who was elected without opposition in 2020.
The teachers’ union has endorsed Arredondo, Santillanes, and Rodriguez. The most controversial race appears to be for Trustee Area 4, where Vargas’s residency is under scrutiny, leading to a formal complaint filed with the District Attorney’s office.
In summary, the CVUSD special election highlights critical races for the Board of Trustees, with six candidates seeking to fill three seats. Voter engagement is crucial as mail-in ballots facilitate participation, particularly following the previous election’s ballot errors. The outcome of these elections may significantly impact the future governance of the CVUSD district amid ongoing scrutiny of candidates’ qualifications.
Original Source: ukenreport.com
