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Lodi Board appoints William Thomas to fill vacancy after two-candidate interview
Summary
After interviewing two candidates in a public special meeting and deliberating in closed session, the Lodi Board of Education voted to appoint William Thomas to the vacancy created by Jocelyn Anderson’s July 14, 2025, resignation. The board discussed community engagement, candidate qualifications and next steps for swearing-in.
The Lodi Board of Education appointed William Thomas to a board vacancy Tuesday night after interviewing two finalists and returning from closed-session deliberations.
The appointment fills the seat vacated by Jocelyn Anderson, who resigned on July 14, 2025. The board conducted public interviews with candidates Omar Lopez and William Thomas; each candidate answered eight questions and was given three minutes per question.
Board President Miss Cardone said the choice was difficult and thanked both candidates for applying and urged the unsuccessful candidate to consider running in the future. “This was maybe one of the toughest decisions that I know I had to make being on the board,” she said.
The board first entertained a motion to appoint Omar Lopez; that motion did not pass after a roll-call vote. A subsequent motion to appoint William Thomas passed on a roll call that produced five yes votes, resulting in Thomas’s selection.
William Thomas introduced himself during the public interview and emphasized leadership and community service. “I have a passion for leadership … I volunteer a lot within the community,” Thomas said during his remarks at the podium.
Omar Lopez framed his candidacy around student support and increased public engagement. “I want to be on the board of education because I want to help the students of Lodi,” Lopez told the board.
Following the vote, board officials said they would not administer the oath of office at the special meeting. The new appointee will be sworn in at the board’s next regular meeting in September; the district office will contact Thomas about required fingerprinting and onboarding steps.
Why it matters: The appointee joins the board ahead of the 2025–26 school year and will participate in decisions that affect curriculum, facilities and budgeting. Candidates and several board members stressed the need to expand community engagement so more residents attend meetings and know district actions.
Key procedural details and clarifications: The vacancy originated with a resignation dated July 14, 2025. The board used a standardized interview script of eight questions; candidates were limited to three minutes per question. The board recessed to closed session for deliberations before returning to public session to take votes.
Next steps: The district will schedule the oath of office at the regular September meeting and notify the appointee about fingerprinting and any mandatory trainings required for board members.
