Four of the Pacifica School District's five board seats are on the ballot: three four-year terms and one two-year term filling the rest of former trustee Lynda Brocchini's term, according to the district. Coastside News called it an unusually competitive race after two years of controversy, including the January 2025 closure of Ocean Shore School and the Vallemar Middle School program, a budget crisis that drew state guidance, 22 staff positions cut this spring and a recall effort that fell short of signatures.

Full four-year terms (vote for three)

  • Laverne R. Villalobos (Incumbent), on the board since 2014.
  • Bridget Hardt (Appointed Incumbent), a former Sunset Ridge PTO member who worked on past bond and parcel tax campaigns. She lists financial stability as a priority.
  • Grace Sobieski (Parent/Educator), former Ocean Shore School PTO president and former teacher.
  • Christopher Swiedler (Parent/Software Engineer), former chair of the parcel tax oversight committee.
  • Tiffany Button (Quality Director/Parent), a biotech executive running on accountability for district leadership.
  • Katy Bradley (Union Organizer/Parent), an organizer for University Professional and Technical Employees.
  • Rachel Durkin (Realtor/Parent).

Two-year term (vote for one)

  • Elizabeth A. Bredall (Special Education Paraprofessional), a trustee since 2014.
  • Kelly Mendoza (Education Programs Leader), a former Common Sense Media vice president.
  • Tracey Simmons, a biologist and educator who calls for detailed public budgets and posting minutes within 48 hours.

Sobieski, Swiedler, Button and Mendoza are running together as the "Let's Get to Work" slate, Coastside News reported. The district says it has also placed a renewal of its education parcel tax, which expires June 30, 2027, on the Nov. 3 ballot.

More races and measures: our 2026 election hub.

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.