The application filing period has opened for a fall special election to fill a vacant seat on the Ukiah Unified School District Board of Trustees.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors last week approved the special election, which will be consolidated with several water district elections on Nov. 4, including the Laytonville County Water District, the Caspar South Water District and the Pacific Reefs Water District.
The special election is being held to replace former Area 6 trustee Rebeca Orozco, who resigned earlier this year. Orozco’s term was set to expire on Dec. 11, 2026, so the replacement board member’s term will end on that date.
Trustee Area 6 includes neighborhoods just south of Gobbi Street and between South Dora Street and U.S. Highway 101.
According to school district spokesman Dan Dougherty, no qualified applications were submitted by a May deadline, which is why the district requested a special election.
The Ukiah Unified School District requested the special election after no qualified applications for the vacant seat were submitted in May.
Dougherty said that normally the trustees would interview applicants and make an appointment, but in this case, the superintendent called for a special election instead and interested applicants can submit their qualifications during the filing period.
Dougherty also explained that the district believes a special election will give them the best chance to attract interested community members. He said consolidating the UUSD election with the water district elections will be more cost-effective because the election costs will be shared and not the sole responsibility of UUSD.
“And if no one runs, the election will be canceled,” Dougherty said in an interview. “The board can once again attempt to make an appointment or pass other procedures to help fill the vacancy.”
The Ukiah Unified School District Board of Trustees will accept applications for the vacant board seat through Aug. 8. The application is available at the Mendocino County Clerk’s Office.
For more information on the special election or to ask questions, contact UUSD by calling (707) 472-5000.