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Bowser, Laursen win seats on Pleasanton school board
Budget issues remain top focus

by Glenn Wohltmann

It was an early victory for two of the three Pleasanton School Board candidates, Jeff Bowser and Joan Laursen, who campaigned together.

The pair took the lead early and never looked back, handily defeating a third candidate, Sandy Piderit.

It was Bower's second attempt at a seat on the board, and he admits there are challenges, despite a state budget that reversed some cuts to schools.

"The situation certainly is better than it was in the last few years," Bowser said, adding he's looking forward to finding out the results of a recent survey on support for a parcel tax.

Laursen, who began her campaign in March, was all smiles as she got the results.

"It's been a long couple of months," she said. "I'm just going in to listen and to learn."

Although Piderit was unsure whether she'd run again, she said, "It was definitely worth running because I got to meet lots of great people and learn what they thought about the schools."

Laursen and Bowser will take their place on the board in December, replacing Jim Ott and Pat Kernan, who opted not to run again.