San Juan Bautista
– The race for two open seats on the Aromas-San Juan Unified
School District Board of Trustees has turned out to be a remarkably
close one, and final results will probably not be available for
some time.
San Juan Bautista – The race for two open seats on the Aromas-San Juan Unified School District Board of Trustees has turned out to be a remarkably close one, and final results will probably not be available for some time.
ASJUSD is a unique school district in that residents from three counties are able to vote – San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. Results from Santa Cruz and Monterey have for the most part been completed, but as much as 40 percent of the votes in San Benito County still need to be counted, a process that will be finished no earlier than the end of this week.
Incumbent Jeff Hancock is currently leading in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, but is trailing in San Benito County, where challenger Louis Fiori has taken the lead followed by Robert Quaid.
Just fewer than 1,000 Monterey County residents voted on the board race, where Hancock leads with 46.6 percent of the vote. Behind him is Fiori with 28 percent of the vote followed by Quaid with 25.5 percent.
In Santa Cruz county, 20 residents voted on the matter, 11 of which went to Hancock, five to Quaid and 4 to Fiori.
According to the most recent numbers from San Benito County, Fiori is in the lead with 34.9 percent of the vote, 40 votes ahead of Quaid with 32.7 percent and Hancock with 32.35 percent – Quaid and Hancock are separated by seven votes, according to the latest numbers available as of press time on Wednesday.
Neither Fiori or Quaid were surprised by how close the race turned out to be.
“I thought it would be close,” Fiori said. “I just wish my other fellow potential (trustees) the best and we’ll see what happens.”
Hancock is seeking his second term on the board of Trustees against Quaid and Fiori, who are parents of children in the district.
Quaid has said his priorities for the district include improving school facilities and maintaining the level of quality instruction at ASJUSD schools.
Fiori said Wednesday he hoped to focus on student achievement and support ASJUSD teachers, as well as promote programs like sports and music.
“I think those kind of activities really foster a good mindset for learning,” he said. “A lot of us look back and wish we’d been more involved in school, so I hope we can encourage our students to achieve and our parents to assist them.”
Hancock has said that his priorities for the district include helping the district succeed under the No Child Left Behind Act and taking a “good look” at the district’s finances. He was unavailable for comment Wednesday.
Facilities are sure to be an issue for whichever two candidates are elected this year. In June voters shot down a $24 million bond measure that would have funded more than dozen projects for the district, including a new cafeteria and auditorium for Anzar High School students, a new preschool building for San Juan School, and a near complete reconstruction of Aromas School, including a new library and media center. Now the board faces the challenge of funding projects without the aid of a bond or appealing to voters with a new measure.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or
ds****@fr***********.com
.
