Eight candidates run for three seats in Los Altos

By Kathleen Acuff, Town Crier Staff Writer

Competitors for local school board races are spilling onto the field.

Eight candidates are vying for the three seats soon to be vacated on the governing board of the Los Altos School District.

Stepping down are President Jay Thomas, Vice President Victor Reid III and member Duane Roberts. Seeking their first four-year term are Los Altos residents Mark Goines, a high-tech executive who until recently served as president of the Los Altos Educational Foundation; David Luskin, a marketing executive and parent volunteer; Francis La Poll, a tax attorney; Tammy Logan, an engineer and parent volunteer; Kathryn “Kitty” Uhlir, a parent volunteer; Bruce Wiener, a realtor; and Los Altos Hills residents David Pefley, a high-tech executive and member of the LAEF board, and David Struthers, a retired teacher.

In the Cupertino Union School District, the terms of President Pearl Cheng, Vice President Gary McCue and Ben Liao will expire this fall. All three incumbents filed to run again. Lynette Lee Eng, a businesswoman and Los Altos resident, and Susan McGhie, an educator and businesswoman, are running for the board as well.

Four candidates are competing for the expiring terms of President John Barton and member Cathy Kroymann in the Palo Alto Unified School District: high-tech executive Claude Ezran, community volunteer Barb Mitchell, accountant and parent Steve Mullen, and engineer and corporate trainer Dana Tom.

Four candidates are in the field for the two expiring seats on the governing board of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. President Sandy Hay’s and member Paul Fong’s terms expire in November. Candidates joining incumbent Fong are Laura Casas Frier, a member of the FHDA Board of Directors; Julia Miller, a member of the Sunnyvale City Council and former mayor; and Bruce Swenson, a retired professor and member of the Foothill Commission.

No terms are expiring in Fremont Union High, Mountain View-Los Altos Union High or Mountain View-Whisman school districts or on the Santa Clara County Board of Education.