Dublin Unified, one of the fastest-growing districts in the Tri-Valley, elects trustees by area. Two areas have contested races on the Nov. 3 ballot. Only voters who live in each trustee area will see that race. Dublin voters also decide Measure I, the school parcel tax increase.
Trustee Area 3 (short term)
- Shalini Bhandari is listed as an energy and sustainability manager and parent.
- Tanner Frye is listed on the county's candidate list as an energy compliance inspector. In his ballot statement he calls himself a former teacher and points to his time working as a paraprofessional in classrooms.
This seat is for a short term, so the winner will be back on the ballot sooner than a regular four-year trustee.
Trustee Area 5
- Dan Cherrier (incumbent) is a civil engineer. His statement says finishing Emerald High School was his main focus. It also says DUSD had more than $20 million in discretionary reserves when he joined the board and that the district is still deficit spending. He writes that he opposed Measure E.
- Seema Badar is listed as a community volunteer. She has been PFC president at Kolb and vice president at Fallon, chaired the district's Citizens Bond Oversight Committee and served on the parcel tax oversight committee.
What's at stake
Both Area 5 candidates are campaigning on the district's budget. That puts reserves and spending at the center of the race, along with the parcel tax that is also on the Dublin ballot.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center. For more local races and measures, see our 2026 Bay Area election hub.