Board of education seats: contested elections produce ties and procedural confusion; special election set for June

The Special School District governing council conducted director elections for several board subdistricts during its March 2 meeting. Two candidates who ran unopposed were approved by roll call; contested contests produced extended candidate statements, multiple ballots and procedural confusion over roll‑call totals.

What happened: The chair called for candidate statements and then roll‑call votes. For Subdistricts with uncontested candidates (for example the candidate introduced and voted for by the council), the roll calls concluded with affirmations and congratulations. For the contested Subdistrict 2 race — with candidates Bob McKittrick and Dr. Dan Cugino (Dan Cugno in the transcript) — the council conducted multiple roll‐call tallies that produced different district‑count and weighted‑population results across ballots. At one point a staff member reported by district count Dan (Cuneo) had 13 districts and Bob had 8, while weighted population totals also differed; the irregularities left the council without a final outcome for that seat and led officers to schedule a special election at the June governing council meeting.

Candidate positions and concerns: Candidates emphasized fiscal stewardship, student‑centered budgeting and restoring trust. Julia Burke, a candidate for another subdistrict, explicitly cited the Department of Justice report and urged a thorough review and investigation so parents can be confident that students are safe; she called on the board to ask its attorneys to review the findings. Other candidates stressed the need to recruit and retain staff and to preserve services for students with disabilities.

Procedure and next steps: Council members and several speakers called for clearer election protocols and continuity of governing council membership to reduce ties and procedural repeat ballots. The clerk/staff announced that because the required combination of district count and weighted population had not been met in the contested race, the council will hold a special election at its June meeting; until then the incumbent named in the transcript will retain the seat.

Why it matters: These appointments determine governance oversight of a district facing fiscal stress and DOJ scrutiny; the vote confusion prompted appeals from council members for better election continuity and clarity.