Martinez Unified board authorizes all-mail special election for June 17 trustee vacancy

March 3, Martinez — The Martinez Unified School District Board of Education on March 3 voted to authorize an all-mail ballot special election on June 17 to fill the trustee area 3 vacancy, approving a resolution the superintendent said will lower the district’s election costs.

Superintendent Helen Rossi told the board that “Elections Code section 4004 allows a special election in a school district to fill a vacancy on the school district's governing board to be conducted wholly as an all-mail ballot election if the legislative body of the school district adopts the resolution authorizing the use of mailed ballots.” Rossi said the district could save “at minimum $20,000” by using mail ballots and described estimated election costs of about $43,000 at the low end versus as much as $64,000 for other options.

The resolution authorizing mailed ballots was placed before the board so the district could file it with the Contra Costa County Elections Division and open the candidate filing window. Rossi said she would file the resolution with the Elections Office the same day; she said the candidate filing window will close on March 21.

Why it matters: The board’s decision sets the mechanics for how voters in Trustee Area 3 will choose a replacement for the vacant seat rather than leaving the appointment in place. Public commenters at the meeting raised broader concerns about recent board appointments, student achievement gaps and budget cuts, making the contest politically charged in the community.

Discussion and public comment: Several community members addressed the board during the public comment period. Yasmine Lamas, introduced by staff as the first public commenter, read district performance figures and said multiple student groups lagged state standards, and she noted the district recently cut $2,100,000 from the budget and that one of the positions affected was a career-position held by Janice Collins. An unnamed speaker identified as representing MEA said Martinez educators “show up daily to teach collaboration” and defended district staff and DEI efforts.

Jonathan Wright, who identified himself as a resident and trustee area 1 parent, criticized those who circulated the petition that triggered the election and linked the petition organizers to national political movements, saying, in part: “MAGA is anti public services, anti science, racist, transphobic, homophobic, sexist, xenophobic, anti union, undemocratic, fascistic, and cowardly.” Wright also urged the board to focus on hiring a superintendent and using the new bond appropriately.

The student representative, speaking during the meeting, said parents calling for the special election demonstrated strong community engagement and a commitment to student outcomes. “They want the best possible education for their students,” the student representative said.

Clarifications from staff during discussion: Board members asked how the all-mail format would differ from the county’s usual elections. Rossi and district staff clarified that under the adopted resolution there would be no staffed polling places on election day; voters could still return ballots to the Elections Office in person on the day of the election. Board members also confirmed that the special election itself had already been set for June 17 by the Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools and that the board’s vote only determined the use of mailed ballots.

Action taken: A board member moved to approve authorization for mailed ballots for the June 17, 2025 board vacancy special election; another board member seconded. The student representative and the board approved the motion by voice vote. The board chair announced the motion passed.

What the record shows: The resolution was described in the meeting as “Resolution Number 20 20 five-nineteen” (as stated on the agenda). Rossi said the resolution would be filed with the Elections Division and named Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey as the official who ordered the election.

Next steps and timeline: Rossi said she would file the resolution with the county Elections Office the same day; candidate filing will remain open through March 21. The all-mail election will proceed on June 17 with ballots mailed to eligible voters in Trustee Area 3 and with ballot drop-off available at the Elections Office on election day.

No further district business was taken at the special meeting and the board adjourned at approximately 9:29 a.m.