Song, Mah assume leads
Immigrant advocate Castellanos in front
Despite a barrage of negative mailers, financed by charter school backers and their hightech supporters, early returns showed that Anna Song was leading challenger David Neighbors in a heated contest to represent Area 5 on the Santa Clara County Board of Education.
For another seat on the board, representing Area 1, incumbent Grace Mah was leading challenger Dave Cortright, a critic of Bullis Charter School in Los Altos.
In the San Jose Unified School District, early returns showed immigrant advocate Teresa Castellanos taking a lead over schools volunteer Paul Murphy and businessman Bill Kleidon in Trustee Area 1. In Trustee Area 2, former district Administrator Sandra Engel was leading volunteer Cathy Davis.
In the East Side Union High School District, incumbent trustee Lan Nguyen held a comfortable lead. For a second seat on the board, challenger Magdalena Carrasco held a slim lead over longtime incumbent Patricia Martinez- Roach. Another candidate, Thelma Boac, trailed.
In a raucous race in the Santa Clara Unified School District, challenger Chris Stampolis took an early lead, along with incumbent Albert Gonzalez. Challenger Jim Van Pernis and Ashish Mangla were trailing in the race for two seats representing Area 2. In Area 3, challenger Michele Ryan, who was running as an ally of Stampolis, was leading over incumbent Elise De Young.
In the Alum Rock School District in San Jose, incumbent Dolores Marquez and challenger Karen Martinez were leading in early returns for a four- way race for two school board seats. Incumbent Esau Herrera and challenger Leland Lowe trailed.
For results of other school board races, see chart on Page 7. Contact Sharon Noguchi at 408271- 3775.