|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Semi-official final election night results show a large lead for Principal Mary Beth Thompson in Area B and a sizable lead for San Jose State Professor Maria Cruz in Area E. These results include vote by mail votes sent in before Nov. 1 and some vote center ballots.
Thompson has declared victory in a statement and her opponent, Jacob Yuryev, has already conceded to her.
These results include 49.1% of registered voters in Area B and 24.33% of registered voters in Area E.
Cruz has a lead of 1,164 votes and has 53.74% of the counted votes. Area E includes East Palo Alto and parts of North Fair Oaks and East Menlo Park.
“I feel really shocked and very happy. At the same time, I really thank my opponents for running a good campaign. I know so much work goes into campaigning and I look forward to working with the community and school district,” said Maria Cruz after the 8:10 p.m. vote release.
Community organizer Tonga Victoria is in second with 1,161 votes, 26.84% of votes counted and educator Jon Bryant is in third with 840 votes, 19.42% of votes counted.
“Didn’t get the results we wanted, and that’s okay! God is still so good! Thank you to all who supported the campaign!” Victoria posted on her Instagram story Wednesday morning, Nov. 6. Victoria could not be reached for comment.
“I’m feeling pretty great right now. I’ve been campaigning and canvasing around the polls all day and I’m happy to have talked with a lot of residents,” said Bryant after the 8:10 p.m. vote release.
For Area B, which includes parts of San Carlos and Belmont, Thompson has a 4,758 vote lead and 63.55% of the votes so far.
“I am incredibly humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve as a trustee for Area B. The early votes are promising, and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working alongside our community to support every student’s success. I am eager to get to work and make a meaningful difference for our students, families, teachers, and staff,” Thompson said in a statement after the 10 p.m. vote release.
Incoming Stanford University freshman Jacob Yuryev conceded to Thompson.
“I just got off the phone with Mary Beth where I congratulated her on her win,” said Yuryev after the 8:10 p.m. vote release. “We ran a robust, professional, positive campaign with a message of academic excellence and transparency. We are proud of the campaign we ran and that our message resonated with some voters.”
Yuryev is in second with 3,620 votes, 27.46% of the total. In third is former tech executive Daniel Torunian with 1,185 votes, 8.99% of the total.
Torunian could not be reached for comment.
Area E is currently held by Shawneece Stevenson, who has generally supported the district’s detracking initiative and Area B is currently held by Carrie Du Bois, who has avoided publicly taking a stance on detracking. Victoria and Thompson were both endorsed by the Sequoia District Teachers Association.
Incumbent Rich Ginn ran unopposed for his Area C seat.
The next vote release will come sometime before 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7.
