Petaluma Joint Union High School District's Trustee Area 5 seat is on the Nov. 3 ballot with two newcomers running, the Press Democrat reports. The district is governed by the Petaluma City Schools board.

The candidates

  • John La Bare (Operations Manager/Father). La Bare's county voter guide statement cites more than 20 years in operations, management and public safety and work as a Cub Scout pack leader. His priorities are safe campuses, strong academics, responsible spending and arts education.
  • Sarah Seitchik Sebastian (Non-Profit Director/Realtor). Her statement says she has been a Petaluma City Schools parent for 15 years and served nine years on the district's LCAP committee. She is a founding member of the local equity group TIDE and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Endorsements

The Sonoma County DSA endorsed Seitchik Sebastian.

See also the Area 3 race.

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.