Crucial Livermore school board race
District elections upset the apple cart
Voters in the Livermore Valley’s 14th Congressional District can be forgiven if they are confused about the endless election season they’ve faced since June.
Because disgraced Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress after several allegations of sexual assault, an election to replace him is sandwiched between the typical off-year June and November balloting. Some of the women’s charges are reportedly under law enforcement investigation. Swalwell, while denying the assault allegations, resigned from Congress having already left his seat open by running for governor. That drew a field of ambitious candidates for the June primary with state Sen. Aisha Wahab topping the field and former Dublin Mayor and current BART President Melissa Hernandez finishing second.
A couple of weeks later, because of state rules, there was an election for the reminder of Swawell’s term that ends when the new Congress opens in January. The same two finished 1-2 with Wahab again topping the balloting, but they advanced to the run-off next week.
Your social media feed and mailbox likely have been filled with campaign messages because both candidates are well-funded with Hernandez raising more money than the sitting legislator who is the assistant Democrat leader in the Senate. She served on the Hayward City Council prior to winning election in 2022.
Hernandez also is attracting plenty of labor union money—including firefighters and law enforcement—that are independent expenditures not run through her committee. It’s already an expensive campaign and this is just for a few months in the seat. The 90 days to November could help Hernandez close the gap if the cash continues to flow.
Wahab has targeted Hernandez’ daytime boss, Supervisor David Haubert, and his Alameda County colleagues with SB 1193 that only affects one county. That’s questionable constitutionally, but it advanced through the Senate and now is in the Assembly. It proposes further tightening how supervisors use discretionary funds that typically go to non-profit organizations. Among the provisions is banning disbursements 90 days before elections.
Given that the county currently requires four votes—because it involves money—for any expenditure, taxpayers currently are well covered.
As would be expected, the county supervisors opposed it unanimously and have been joined by the associations representing county governments. The bill currently is set for a third reading on the Assembly floor. Legislators returned from their summer recess Monday.
Meanwhile, Aug. 12 is the filing deadline for the November ballot and it shapes up to be an important one for Livermore schools. The superintendent who left suddenly earlier this year encouraged the board to move to district elections (a bad move unless forced to by the threat of legal action) and it’s leaving a mess on the board. Three districts are up this year and in District 5, the only two trustees that will remain on the board are running against each other for the four-year term. Deanna Kaplanis and Christian VandenHeuvel were both elected in 2024 and have safe seats until 2028. The winner takes the four-year seat and the loser will continue through 2028.
Meanwhile two other incumbents, Emily Prusso and Steven Drouin both have said publicly they’re not standing for re-electing. The term of Craig Bueno, the most experienced trustee, is up and his district will not be open for election until 2028 so he’s sidelined. That’s a loss for the board.
When Jeremy Walsh wrote his column in the Weekly two weeks ago, no one had filed for District 3. That prompted former trustee, Kate Runyon, who served three terms until 2018, to pull papers. She since has withdrawn her candidacy because she understands other qualified people are running in that area.
A quality board is critical because the new superintendent, Dr. Anthony Limoges, took charge this summer. A stable board to join him in providing quality leadership is important. After more than a decade with Dr. Kelly Bowers in charge, Limoges is the third superintendent in three years. The district can use a steady hand at the tiller for several years.
'We're going to miss everybody': Chinese Szechuan set to close its doors in Pleasanton later this monthAugust 4, 2026 4:10 pm
Livermore OKs 900-unit guardrail for potential residential development near SpringtownAugust 4, 2026 9:20 pm
Online community raises funds to honor man killed in Jeep accident in PleasantonAugust 5, 2026 2:06 pm