The county Board of Education is different from your local school board. It appoints the county superintendent, approves the county office of education's budget, and oversees county-run educational programs and charter schools. Three of its seats are up this year.

Area 7: Lari vs. Dominguez Vega

Area 7 covers Morgan Hill, Gilroy and part of the East Side Union High School District.

  • Raeena Lari (incumbent) took office in December 2022. Ballotpedia lists her experience as a research economist, commissioner and nonprofit director. She says fiscal oversight means reviewing financial reports and independent audits, protecting public contracts and asking tough questions. Her endorsements include the California Teachers Association, state Sen. Dave Cortese and Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Alex Lee.
  • Karla Dominguez Vega is a student support specialist in Morgan Hill Unified. She has raised concerns about administrative raises coming alongside cuts to special education, foster youth and migrant student programs. Her backers include former trustees Claudia Rossi and Kathleen King.

Why this seat matters now

The board fired Superintendent Mary Ann Dewan without cause in October 2024. As summarized by Hoodline from Mercury News reporting, an internal review later produced 14 findings, including misuse of public funds and contracts awarded in a way that suggested favoritism. The county office has also laid off several hundred employees as enrollment declines.

The uncontested seats

Saratoga Councilmember Yan Zhao is unopposed in Area 2, which covers Los Gatos, Cupertino and Saratoga, replacing Tara Sreekrishnan. Maimona Afzal Berta is unopposed in Area 4, which covers most of San Jose Unified and parts of the Oak Grove and East Side districts. Need logistics? See our Santa Clara County voting guide.

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.