Clay Hale Leads in Silicon Valley Education: Clay Hale, a 28-year-old local teacher, has taken the lead in a special election held on Tuesday to represent Area 7 on the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District Board of Trustees. Initial returns show Hale with 47.05% or 2,211 votes, solidifying his position as the frontrunner. His closest competitor, Lisanna Dominguez, garnered 31.11% or 1,462 votes. Stephen Eckstone came in third with 8.68% or 408 votes, followed by Diego Barragán with 8.66% or 407 votes, and Anthony Macias in fifth place with 4.49% or 211 votes. The county elections office has reported that 75% of precincts have been counted.
Expressing his appreciation for the support he’s received, Hale, a local teacher and community member, acknowledged the role his voters played in bringing a teacher’s perspective to the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District. He remains optimistic about his lead and anticipates further updates on the election.
In line with expectations for a special election, voter turnout has been relatively low, standing at 16.3% as of Wednesday, with a total of 13,662 ballots cast.
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Dominguez, who holds a leadership role at the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, has not yet conceded and maintains an optimistic outlook. She expressed pride in the campaign she ran and thanked her supporters, indicating her intent to keep an eye on the returns until every vote has been counted.
Hale, an educator in the East Side Union High School District and a representative for the East Side Teachers Association Union, is deeply involved in advising high school students in a dual enrollment program in partnership with Evergreen Valley College. As a first-generation college student and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, he is a strong advocate for change. Hale has garnered endorsements from influential figures, including California Assemblymember Alex Lee, former Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, and various teacher associations. The Silicon Valley Young Democrats have also backed him, emphasizing his dedication to grassroots advocacy.
Hale’s platform is centered on improving community college student transfers and graduation rates, establishing community partnerships, and ensuring financial support for student success. He also seeks to enhance mental health support and on-campus housing options for students, faculty, and staff.
The Area 7 seat, which encompasses downtown San Jose, Guadalupe Washington, and the Spartan Keyes neighborhoods, became vacant earlier this year when former trustee Omar Torres was elected to the San Jose City Council. Rather than making an appointment or waiting for the regular November 2024 election, district leaders opted for a costly special election to fill the position.