Area 4 is in central Watsonville and includes Mintie White Elementary, E.A. Hall Middle and Watsonville High. Only Area 4 residents vote in this race.
The candidates
- Daniel Dodge Jr. (incumbent), 44, was first elected in 2018 and works for Vallarta Supermarkets. He says he weighs the superintendent's recommendations against what constituents tell him and will oppose the administration when he thinks it's wrong. "I'm here to serve the people. It's not the other way around," he told Santa Cruz Local. He opposed cuts to district mental health clinicians and wants more partnerships, including with Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance.
- Eriberto Estrada, 18, is a student at Cal State Monterey Bay and a community organizer. He wants funding found to bring back on-campus mental health counselors. He says teachers need "respect" and better pay, and that special education access shouldn't depend on a family's finances.
What's at stake
PVUSD has cut mental health staff and is working through a hard budget, so both candidates are focused on how to restore services without more cuts.
See also: PVUSD Area 1 and Areas 5 and 7.
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.