Gilroy Unified's Trustee Area 4 seat is one of four on the district's 2026 ballot.
Trevor Scott Van Laar
Van Laar is a GUSD parent of four, a pastor and a first-generation college graduate. He taught Leadership Gilroy for a decade, became Garlic Festival president in 2023, and is now president of Visit Gilroy. He told the Gilroy Dispatch he has served eight years on school site councils at Rod Kelley, South Valley and Gilroy High, and six years on the Superintendent's Advisory Council.
Jane Stevens
Stevens is a retired registered nurse who spent her last 13 years of nursing at Kaiser Gilroy and has lived in Gilroy for 46 years. She said she advocates for two grandsons who have IEPs, and that every child deserves an education that responds to their individual needs.
This explainer summarizes the candidates' own statements and published reporting. It does not endorse anyone.
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.