South Bay school board incumbents leading in their races

This year’s school board races likely won’t shift power on South Bay school boards. 

More than 40 candidates campaigned across the South Bay as all six school districts face budget shortfalls. About a third of those candidates are incumbents, most of whom are leading in their races, according to the latest unofficial results. Some automatically won because they were uncontested.

They’ve signed up for a big job. Districts in San Diego County and beyond are struggling with declining student enrollment, rising costs and growing student needs. All of the South Bay school board candidates were asked by inewsource how they would tackle the districts’ most pressing challenges. 

Here’s the latest on South Bay school board races.

Chula Vista Elementary 

This year, a dozen candidates — including two incumbents — competed for three open school board seats. The district’s teachers union backed three of those candidates, two of whom are leading their races: Jessica Castillo Tolston and Leticia Segura. 

Castillo Tolston leads Jorge Balvaneda and Debra McLaren in the race for Seat 1, with roughly twice as many votes as them. She was originally appointed to her position in January 2025.

Segura leads Katina Gonzalez-Rondeau and Norma Lozoya Toothman in the race for Seat 3. 

Delia Dominguez Cervantes has a significant lead compared to the five other candidates competing for Seat 5, with roughly twice as many votes as her closest competitor, Janette Gomez. Dominguez Cervantes currently holds Seat 3 on the district’s school board. Her term expires in December.

Coronado Unified

This year, four candidates — including two incumbents — are running for school board. The district’s voters will elect three candidates. 

Alexia Palacios-Peters, Mal Sandie and Peggy Duncan are respectively in the lead. Palacios-Peters and Sandie are both incumbents. 

National Elementary 

This year, seven candidates are running for three open seats on the district’s school board. Two of those candidates, Alma Sarmiento and Barbara Avalos, are incumbents and lead their races. 

Sarmiento has twice as many votes as Joanna Coronado in the Area B race. She was first elected to the board nearly 35 years ago.

Barbara Avalos, who has served on the board for nearly 18 years, leads Arturo Solis in the race for the Area C seat. 

Maria Miranda has a slight lead over Randy Vargas in the race for the Area E seat. 

San Ysidro Elementary 

This year, 11 candidates are running for three open seats on the district’s school board. All three incumbents — Irene Lopez, Zenaida Rosario and Martin Arias — are in the lead. 

South Bay Union 

This year, four candidates — including two incumbents — ran for three open seats on the district’s board. Two were uncontested, including one incumbent.

Incumbent Kelly Leiker has a slight lead over Erika Lowery in the race for the Area 1 seat.

Manuel Esparza, the district’s board president, will serve a new term in the Area 4 seat. Brenda Gonzalez was also uncontested for the Area 2 seat. 

Sweetwater Union 

This year, four candidates ran for three open seats on the district’s school board. Two of them are incumbents who went uncontested: Elva Lopez-Zepeda and Marti Emerald. 

Maria Betancourt-Castañeda leads Fermin Eusebio Jimenez by more than double the votes. Betancourt-Castañeda currently serves on the National School District school board. Her term expires in December.