Sonoma County School Races

Results are a combination of data provided by the Associated Press (AP) and county election offices. The AP calls winners by analyzing vote tallies and other election data. Check marks are used to denote a winner only when the AP calls a race.

Top candidate wins seat. Includes votes from Sonoma and Marin counties.

Jill Manning-Sartori55.8%
7,535 votes
Denise Bohman44.1%
5,966 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

Top candidate wins seat.

Mary Watts63.4%
18,641 votes
Marc Orloff36.5%
10,760 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

Top candidate wins seat.

Andre L. Bailey52.2%
11,183 votes
Maha Gregoretti47.7%
10,238 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

Top candidate wins seat.

Rose McAllister(incumbent)28.6%
4,319 votes
Judy Velasquez27%
4,086 votes
Donna del Rey20.5%
3,096 votes

Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

Top candidate wins seat. Includes votes from Sonoma and Marin Counties.

Thomas Tyson(incumbent)72.3%
1,616 votes
Buddy Faure27.6%
617 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

Top two candidates win seat.

Bill Adams(incumbent)38.2%
6,623 votes
Malinalli Lopez(incumbent)37%
6,408 votes
George A. Horwedel24.7%
4,287 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

Top candidate wins seat.

Ellen Webster82.8%
5,445 votes
Kimberly Ruiz Seitz17.1%
1,127 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

Top candidate wins seat.

Linda Tighe Helton58.1%
2,979 votes
Debbie Ramirez41.8%
2,141 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

Top two candidates win seat.

Erin Lagourgue(incumbent)38.1%
1,195 votes
Paloma Escalante De Burrows34.5%
1,082 votes
Kali Dukes Wagner27.2%
854 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

Marin County Board of Education, Trustee Area 7

Top candidate wins seat. Includes votes from Sonoma and Marin counties.

Jill Manning-Sartori55.8%
7,535 votes
Denise Bohman44.1%
5,966 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Denise Bohman

  • Lagunitas School District Trustee
  • Statement pending or not available.

Jill Manning ( Sartori )

  • Shoreline Unified School District Trustee
  • Statement pending or not available.

Sonoma County Board of Education, Trustee Area 3 (Central County)

Top candidate wins seat.

Mary Watts63.4%
18,641 votes
Marc Orloff36.5%
10,760 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Marc Orloff

  • Parent/insurance professional
  • Statement pending or not available.

Mary Watts

  • Policy advisory/parent
  • Statement pending or not available.

Sonoma County Junior College District, Trustee Area 3 (Rohnert Park Area)

Top candidate wins seat.

Andre L. Bailey52.2%
11,183 votes
Maha Gregoretti47.7%
10,238 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Maha Gregoretti

  • Educator
  • Statement pending or not available.

Andre L. Bailey

  • Retired educator
  • Inclusivity: “My role in the Educational Opportunity Program focused on supporting first-generation and historically low-income students through academic and financial advising.”
  • Education: “My extensive experience and deep understanding of our local educational landscape positions me to effectively support and advance our community’s educational goals.”
  • Accessibility: “I am committed to advocating for accessible, quality higher education for all students at Santa Rosa Junior College.”

Healdsburg Unified School District Governing Board

Top candidate wins seat.

Rose McAllister(incumbent)28.6%
4,319 votes
Judy Velasquez27%
4,086 votes
Donna del Rey20.5%
3,096 votes

Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Danielle Kucera

  • Director of marketing
  • Community: “My interest in the well-being of my local community started at the very beginning of my career.”
  • Engagement: “As a member of the Healdsburg School Board, I would use the nonjudgmental curiosity I developed as a journalist to listen intently to students, teachers, parents, and our wider community — and I would combine that with the results-driven mindset I now use every day as a leader at a data privacy company.”
  • Problem Solving: “I thrive in gray areas, and I have the skill set to figure out the best answer in situations where the right one may not exist.”

Rose McAllister

  • Healdsburg Unified School District Governing Board
  • Collaboration: “I seek reelection to use the knowledge and relationships I’ve built to continue to serve with energy, an open mind, and a spirit of collaboration.”
  • Resources: “I believe that our community resources should build a future full of knowledge, confidence, and career options for every student.”
  • Experience: “My professional background in government relations prepared me for the diplomacy, tenacity, and patience required in any public office.”

Donna del Rey

  • Small-business owner
  • Budget: “I’m very honored to have been a part of the advances in the district over the last decade, including the facility improvements at all the campuses.”
  • Public Service: “Since choosing not to run for reelection in 2022, I’ve continued to support the district by volunteering on the HES-FMC Governance Council and assisting with ad hoc projects as needed.”
  • Education: “I’m a believer in the power of public schools to educate, create opportunities for and inspire all students.”

Skyler Osborn

  • Manufacturing engineer
  • Representation: “As a member of the Healdsburg Unified School District Board of Directors I would be committed to ensuring all students receive the highest quality of education possible, while also ensuring all voices are heard and represented.”
  • STEM: “I am an engineer by training and I have witnessed firsthand how important knowledge in the fundamentals of science, technology, engineering, and math are for students when they reach industry.”
  • Inclusivity: “It is important to me that all students are given equal opportunities to succeed and thrive in an inclusive learning environment where their individual needs are met.”

Judy Velasquez

  • Retired teacher
  • Education: “Public education has been a passion and focus of mine.”
  • Recovery: “There is still much to do to recover from the pandemic and to advance our students’ success.”
  • Engagement: “I especially enjoy visiting classrooms, seeing students interactive and engaged.”

Shoreline Unified School District, Trustee Area 1

Top candidate wins seat. Includes votes from Sonoma and Marin Counties.

Thomas Tyson(incumbent)72.3%
1,616 votes
Buddy Faure27.6%
617 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Thomas Tyson

  • Shoreline Unified School District Trustee, Area 1
  • Statement pending or not available.

Buddy Faure

  • No designation.
  • Statement pending or not available.

Windsor Unified School District Governing Board

Top two candidates win seat.

Bill Adams(incumbent)38.2%
6,623 votes
Malinalli Lopez(incumbent)37%
6,408 votes
George A. Horwedel24.7%
4,287 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Bill Adams

  • Windsor Unified School District Governing Board
  • Growth: “Much work remains to be done and I am asking for your support and vote to serve another term.”
  • Improvement: “I believe we can and must continue to improve our schools for all our students and their families.”
  • Educators: “We are blessed with amazing community support that ensures our outstanding teachers, classified staff, administrators, and School Board achieve success together through listening, collaboration, and commitment to excellence.”

Malinalli Lopez

  • Windsor Unified School District Governing Board
  • Statement pending or not available.

George A. Horwedel

  • Retired 
  • Budget: “Unfortunately, the WUSD since 2015 has continually added high salaried, non-classroom employees. My first priority is to analyze, then reduce non-classroom staff and to use the savings to fund classroom and student needs.”
  • School Bonds: “My fourth priority is restarting the Bond Oversight Committee to oversee all bond expenditures as WUSD promised taxpayers through the last school bond measure.”
  • Administration: “Current WUSD administrative priorities, unfortunately don’t align with student and classroom needs. We can do a whole lot better.”
  • www.horwedel4wusd.com

Petaluma City (Elementary) and Petaluma Joint Union High School Districts Governing Board, Trustee Area 4

Top candidate wins seat.

Ellen Webster82.8%
5,445 votes
Kimberly Ruiz Seitz17.1%
1,127 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Ellen Webster

  • Educator/parent
  • Challenges: “Our district is strong, but we are faced with daunting challenges, including ongoing learning loss, mental health, climate and safety issues, and the need for every student to have a trusted adult on campus.”
  • Experience: “I am running for reelection because my years of experience as a board member and educator will continue to be a benefit to the entire PCS community.”
  • Inclusivity: “I stand for transparency, diversity, equity and inclusion, and continuing the district mission of providing every student with the opportunity to be successful in whatever endeavor he or she pursues.”
  • www.websterforschoolboard.com

Kimberly Ruiz Seitz

  • VP investment operations
  • Statement pending or not available.

West Sonoma County Union High School District Governing Board, Trustee Area 2

Top candidate wins seat.

Linda Tighe Helton58.1%
2,979 votes
Debbie Ramirez41.8%
2,141 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Linda Tighe Helton

  • Retired teacher
  • Student Success: “My priority is to equip our students for their place in society as productive lifelong learners in today’s ever-changing social climate.”
  • Inclusivity: “It’s imperative we have safe, secure campuses that promote diversity, equity, inclusion and tolerance.”
  • Education: “I will ensure that the West Sonoma County Union High School District continues to be an exceptional place to go to school as we confidently move forward into the future.”

Debbie Ramirez

  • West Sonoma County Union High School District Governing Board Trustee, Area 2/field representative
  • Regulations: “I am well-versed in school budgeting, education code, goal setting, mandates, and the Brown Act open meeting laws.” 
  • Collaboration: “By incorporating input from teachers, administrators, parents, and students, and utilizing a data-driven process, we developed a more comprehensive and equity-focused planning framework than ever before.”
  • Transparency: “I am committed to ensuring the success of all students by focusing on meaningful engagement, transparency and fiscal responsibility.”
  • www.DebbieRamirez4SchoolBoard.com

Oak Grove Union School District Governing Board

Top two candidates win seat.

Erin Lagourgue(incumbent)38.1%
1,195 votes
Paloma Escalante De Burrows34.5%
1,082 votes
Kali Dukes Wagner27.2%
854 votes
Updated at 7:45 PM PT on Nov 22, 2024
Sonoma County

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Paloma Escalante De Burrows

  • Preschool site supervisor
  • Statement pending or not available.

Kali Dukes Wagner

  • Homemaker
  • Statement pending or not available.

Erin Lagourgue

  • Oak Grove Union School District Governing Board
  • Statement pending or not available.

More Results

See results for all elections on the Sonoma County ballot.

Have a correction? Contact voterguide@kqed.org.