Key Fresno Unified school board race still too close to call, but the lead was growing

Fresno Unified Trustee Veva Islas saw her narrow lead grow slightly in the race for the McLane High-area school board seat.

Now, just 141 votes separate Islas, the staunchly progressive incumbent backed by the Fresno Teachers Association, from challenger Karen Steed, a retired teacher endorsed by the Fresno County Republican Party.

Thursday’s updated numbers show Islas ahead with 2,043 (43.4%) over Steed’s 1,902 votes (40.4%). Chemist Michelle Scire trailed with 15.3% of the vote.

Islas took an early lead during Tuesday’s midterm election, but Steed closed the gap as the evening went on. At one point, just 25 votes separated the front-runners. But while the latest elections office update gave Islas at least some breathing room, the race remained too close to call Friday.

Before Thursday’s update from the Fresno County Clerk’s Office, Islas described the race as “closer than I’d like,” while Steed said she was poised to come from behind.

“I didn’t get this far – with the people that are behind me – to fail,” Steed said.

Following Thursday’s update, Steed told The Bee’s Education Lab that she still expects to win.

Steed spent approximately $1,500 of her own money and received about $1,000 in contributions, compared to Islas, who raised $41,277 in contributions.

“If you don’t have the right message, if you don’t have the right heart, if you don’t have what the people are looking for,” she said about the money she raised in comparison to others, “you can spend all the money you want and not make any traction.

“I had no money, but I had the right message.”

In the race to fill the other three Fresno Unified seats, one challenger and two incumbents emerged with significant leads after Tuesday night’s midterm election.

They maintained those leads.

Challenger Susan Wittrup, a retired FUSD school psychologist, garnered 57.7% of votes over incumbent Trustee Terry Slatic, a retired United States Marine Corps major, with 26.05%. Fresno Unified teacher Jim Barr followed with 11.8%, and retired Fresno Unified campus safety assistant Michael Haynes now has 4.1%.

Trustee Keshia Thomas captured 74.3% of the vote against opponent Wayne Horton with 24.7% in the race for the Edison High area seat.

In the Sunnyside High School area, Trustee Valerie Davis still leads her three challengers with 47.2% of the vote. Alternative education teacher Karl C. Diaz collected 23% of the vote. Educator Tammy McMahon-Gorans is third with about 20%, and marketer Michael Osmer was last with 8.9%

The Clovis Unified School Board Area 1 seat started as a tight race between two parents, early election results showed late Tuesday, but parent and nonprofit executive Clint Olivier pulled ahead and said he was “confident” about a victory.

Olivier, a former two-term city councilman, continues to lead with 17,763 votes (38.4%) over parent and communications consultant Samantha Bauer with14,939 votes (32.3%).

Parent and businessman Chuck Der Manouel and Realtor Joanne Burton also sought the vacant Area 1 seat. Der Manouel has 24.1% of the vote; Burton has 4.5%.

Area 6 candidate Deena Combs-Flores, a parent and teacher, has earned 26,296 votes, 60.4% of the vote, in comparison to retired business owner Bill Whitmore who has 16,976 votes or 39%.

The Fresno County Clerk and Registrar of Voters still has at least 33,500 more ballots to count.

The Ed Lab’s Julianna Morano contributed to this report.