Napa Valley Unified board declares Trustee Area 7 seat vacant after court order, will begin steps to fill it

The Napa Valley Unified School District Board of Education voted to declare the Trustee Area 7 seat vacant after legal counsel told trustees the incumbent no longer lives in the district area following a Napa Superior Court permanent restraining order.

Mary Hernandez, the district’s legal counsel, presented Resolution 26‑34 and told the board that Ms. Juliana Viegas Heart “no longer lives in district area her district area trustee area seven,” and that “when a board member no longer inhabits their trustee area, their seat becomes vacant as a matter of law pursuant to Government Code 1770.” Hernandez recommended the board approve the resolution and proceed with the legally required steps to fill the vacancy.

Trustee Riser moved to approve the resolution, Trustee Martin seconded, and the board approved the measure in a roll-call vote. Trustees Hsu, Gonzalez Mares, Jankowitz, Martin, Water and Riser were recorded voting yes. There were no public comments on the item.

Board members did not identify any alternative legal interpretations on the record; after the vote Hernandez said the board will begin the process to fill the vacancy at a subsequent meeting, as required by law.

Earlier in the session the board approved the special session agenda and then adjourned into a closed session; upon returning the board reported there were no disclosures from closed session and then adjourned the meeting.

Next steps: the board said it will bring procedural steps to a future meeting to begin filling the Trustee Area 7 vacancy under the district’s legal obligations.