Dear Community
I want to bring your attention to an important matter. As of July 2nd 2024, Trustee Area 3’s Terri Knudsen has resigned due to personal health issues. Her seat can be added to the ballot if the board passes a resolution by July 12th, 2024 (this Friday). The meeting tomorrow is the result of many community members demand for a fair election to fill the short-term seat on the 2024 ballot.
Tomorrow’s special board meeting will go over the options presented by the district legal council (6pm at the DO, Zoom here, Agenda here, Speaker form here):
- Appointment: The board can appoint someone to the seat.
- Resolution: Or, the board can add the seat to the November ballot (which is the right option - letting voters decide in an election year).
I've spoken with Ms. Bren Lehr, the Candidate Services Directory at the Santa Clara County Registrar Office of Voters. In an email she also confirmed that there are two paths to easily make this seat available for election:
- If the superintendent has the authority to make administrative changes to the resolution, the Registrar Office of Voters (ROV) will accept a letter on district letterhead.
- Otherwise, we’ll need an amended resolution that adds the short-term seat by no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 12, 2024.
If the board goes with an appointment option, it undermines voters’ rights. The community should decide who represents them and looks out for their children’s best interests. Given the clear alternatives, opting for an appointment would be an obstruction of justice.
I urge you to attend tomorrow’s board meeting and publicly advocate for an election. Let’s ensure fairness and transparency by amending the resolution to include the short-term seat on the ballot.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Anahita