Incumbent, teacher lead in National City

In the race for two seats on the National School District in National City, incumbent Barbara Avalos and teacher Michelle Gates held a lead Tuesday over three challengers, according to early returns from the county registrar of voters.

The top two vote-getters will earn a seat on the fivemember school board. Avalos held a slim lead over parent Rocina Lizarraga, according to the early returns.

The other candidates on the ballot were incumbent Brian Clapper and community member Zachary Gomez. Both Gates and Lizarraga were backed by the teachers’ union.

Avalos, the board president, was elected in 2008. Clapper was elected in 2012.

With Superintendent Leighangela Brady at the helm, the school district serves more than 5,000 students at 10 elementary schools, a charter school and a preschool.

In the South Bay Union School District races, incumbent Cheryl Quinones held a lead over challenger Allan Baluyot in Trustee Area 3, which includes Oneonta and Berry elementary schools and VIP Village Preschool. Quinones was elected in 2016.

In Trustee Area 5, which includes Nicoloff and Pence elementary schools, parent Jannet Medina ran unopposed to replace trustee Barbara Elliott-Sanders, who did not run, according to information from the registrar of voters.

Superintendent Katie McNamara leads the South Bay Union School District, which serves almost 8,000 students from pre-K to eighth grade across 12 schools, including a preschool and two charter schools.

The district serves Imperial Beach and southern San Diego.

Five members serve on the school board.

In San Ysidro, incumbents Antonio Martinez and Rosaleah Pallasigue ran unopposed in their bids to keep their seats on the five-member San Ysidro School District board. The district serves about 4,500 students at a preschool, five elementary schools and a two middle schools.

Martinez was elected in 2012, Pallasigue in 2016. Superintendent Gina Potter is in charge of the district.

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