It appears that Daniel Heiss has maintained his lead in the Area 1 race for the Contra Costa County Board of Education, receiving 59.2% of all the votes cast, according to the most recent unofficial county update released Nov. 22.
In a post on his website Caro reflected on his journey from serving in the military to running for office, saying: “Though we lost in votes, we won in opportunity. After six months of campaigning, we won a wide coalition of supporters that included labor partners, elected officials, community organizers, parents, students, and teachers. We won a large database of volunteers willing to continue to give their time towards the cause of student success. We won by informing parents of the many ways local government can be used to improve their child’s school experience. We won by exciting dozens of students on how they can turn dissatisfaction into action. Our campaign was never about winning a seat but creating opportunities to build on far after election day.”
Heiss, in an email to Richmondside, said: “I am so deeply honored and humbled that more than 30,000 of my neighbors have put their trust in me to play a role in shaping the future of Contra Costa County public education. I plan to be laser focused on what is best for kids. My opponent ran a great campaign and I wish him well in the future.”
It’s a momentous time for west county’s public schools, which face financial and academic performance crises, as educators and parents fret over having enough money to improve student literacy and graduation rates and keep schools safe and sufficiently staffed with credentialed teachers.
Caro and Heiss were competing to succeed Consuelo Lara, who served one term on the county board and endorsed Caro. The area represents El Cerrito, El Sobrante, San Pablo, Pinole, Richmond, and parts of Kensington and encompasses all of the West Contra Costa Unified School District. The county Board of Education’s powers include hearing charter school petitions, considering appeals for inter-district transfers, and approving or denying the County Office of Education’s budget (which was about $96 million last year.)
Neither candidate has held public office. In his campaign Caro drew attention to the endorsements he received from various Bay Area politicians, including former Richmond mayors Tom Butt and Nat Bates. Heiss has said publically that he’s the only candidate with experience in education — a statement that Caro disputed and sued the Contra Costa County Clerk Recorder over for allowing Heiss to describe himself as “Educator/Economic Commissioner,” on the ballot. Heiss told Richmondside he was a volunteer for a university fraternity and has done fundraising work for university athletics departments.
In a candidates forum in early October, Caro and Heiss clashed over how the county board can help schools deal with a lack of funding for staff. The two also disagreed on how to improve literacy levels and college readiness, with Heiss arguing for increasing high school students’ exposure to trade skills and Caro saying the county should use data-backed approaches from around the country to design education standards.
Richmond election results
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Freelance reporter Zack Haber contributed to this report.
