After a roller-coaster election in which PVUSD Trustee Area 7 incumbent Misty Navarro started leading challenger Mads Realmuto, She slowly fell behind as new results came in, and as of the latest update on Nov. 10, Realmuto was ahead by 239 votes.
In a Facebook post, Navarro thanked her supporters for their work during the campaign.
“The voters of Area 7 have spoken, and I respect their decision,” Navarro wrote. “Congratulations to Mads Realmuto. I wish him every success, because our students need this board to succeed.”
Navarro, who has served on the board for two years, said she hopes her campaign encouraged Aptos residents to pay closer attention to the district’s challenges. She warned that declining enrollment and limited resources could force difficult decisions about closing schools, including in Aptos. She also expressed concern about divisions between communities within the district and questioned whether it would be better to operate fewer, higher-quality schools rather than spread resources too thin. Navarro said she would complete her final board meeting next week and remain involved in the community.
In his own Facebook post, Realmuto thanked Navarro for her service and said the two had a productive conversation following her concession. Although they disagree on some issues, he said they share a commitment to providing students with the best possible education.
“While we don’t agree on everything, we absolutely agree on the importance of giving every student the best possible opportunity to succeed,” Realmuto wrote.
Realmuto also thanked his campaign supporters and emphasized his commitment to building coalitions and bringing people together. He specifically reached out to residents who voted against him, promising to listen to their concerns and represent the entire trustee area.
“My responsibility is first and foremost to our children, and their needs will guide my decisions,” he wrote.
He said he looks forward to working with families, educators and fellow trustees to strengthen the district’s schools.
The rest of the PVUSD board had already been cemented, with Alicia easily winning her Trustee Area 5 seat with more than 80% of the vote, Andrew Goldenkranz besting his two opponents with 42.9% of the vote and Eriberto Estrada ousting Trustee Area 4 incumbent Daniel Dodge, Jr. with just over 69.5%.
With trustees Gabriel Medina, Jessica Carrasco and Carol Turley the sole remaining members, Navarro’s loss means that a board with four new members will soon be grappling with serious budget issues and with selecting a new superintendent, two issues that can challenge even experienced boards.
City Council: Clark out, Acosta wins
Watsonville City Council District 5 incumbent Casey Clark says there will likely not be a recount in that election, after challenger Angel Zuniga notched 62 more votes. The apparent victory means that Zuniga, who has not served in an elected position, is set to become mayor next tear under the guidelines that assigns that position on a rotating basis.
In addition to the elevated position and a seat at the center of the dais, that includes running the meetings.
In Watsonville’s District 7, Ed Acosta has taken the seat with 1,366 votes, giving him just over 54% of the vote over Nancy Bilicich.
