Fishing a name out of a basket may not be the most scientific
way to chose a school official, but it’s how the Aromas-San Juan
Unified School District selected its third school board member
Wednesday after the Nov. 2 election ended in a tie.
Aromas – Fishing a name out of a basket may not be the most scientific way to chose a school official, but it’s how the Aromas-San Juan Unified School District selected its third school board member Wednesday after the Nov. 2 election ended in a tie.
School officials drew a name at random – as outlined in a little-known section of the elections code – to break the tie between candidates Sylvia Rios Metcalf and Rachel Ponce. Rios Metcalf’s name was chosen and now Ponce is asking for a recount, which will begin in Monterey County as soon as she makes a cash deposit at the elections office to help pay for the process.
Board President Andy Hsia-Coron drew Rios Metcalf’s name out of a basket Wednesday while District Superintendent Jackie Muñoz and her assistant witnessed the process. Rios Metcalf was sworn in at an emotional ceremony during Wednesday’s board meeting.
Ponce, who has served eight years on the Aromas-San Juan School Board and worked as a teacher’s aid at San Juan School for 15 years, said she had no ill feeling towards Rios Metcalf and was asking for a recount simply because she wanted to ensure no errors were made.
“It’s quite bizarre that two people would get the same number of votes,” said Ponce, who was visibly upset and crying during the meeting.
Rios Metcalf showed sympathy for Ponce.
“It’s a difficult moment. It’s hard to lose Rachel, and I am in a awkward position,” she said. “I know how it feels to nurture and raise something that is very precious to you and then not know what will happen once you leave.”
Ponce and Metcalf Rios each received 1,433 votes. The tie is an unprecedented event in school board elections and has only happened once in San Benito County, said John Hodges, who has been a county elections official since 1983.
The unusual manner of picking a board member is complicated by the fact that the school district has students from three different counties – San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey, although the majority of the students live in this county. Ponce said the recount would happen in all three counties as is required by law. Ponce questioned the Monterey vote total in particular and said she and a supporter got different counts from that county when they called to ask about the tallies.
“Monterey gave us two different counts, took the longest and were the only ones who used machines to count the ballots,” said Ponce.
If the numbers show Ponce the winner, Metcalf Rios would have to step down, said Tony Anchundo, spokesman for the Monterey County Elections Office.
“Whatever the recount shows we will follow through because it is certified by the county,” Munoz said.
The recount comes at a price. Before any new counting is done, Ponce must pay a deposit of $200-300 plus the cost of four poll workers for at least six hours in each county where she wants to initiate the process, said Gail Pellerin, Santa Cruz County Clerk. So far, Ponce has only paid $200 to San Benito County Elections Office.
Six candidates ran for three available seats in the November election. Incumbent Leslie Austin received 1,525 votes and newcomer Bonnie Mahler received 1,448 – placing first and second in the race for three seats.
Ponce received more votes than any other candidate among San Benito voters –1008 out of a total 3,374. But when votes from neighboring counties were tallied, her lead disappeared.
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or ki*****@fr***********.com.
