For this Election, WCSD Board Candidates Actually Had to Campaign

When longtime Walnut Creek school board member Dan Walden suddenly decided in August not to seek re-election, a big void opened up in the five-member governing board of the district. 

Two incumbents already had said they wanted to run again. So far, so good. However, the filing deadline for running was approaching rapidly. A third candidate needed to step forward and fast. Word went out in the community.

Pretty soon, not one person stepped forward but three. The Walnut Creek School District board race had a contested election on its hands, which it had not had a contested election in quite some time.

That meant that the candidates actually had to campaign, and much of what that implies. For one thing, the candidates participated in forums, including one on Oct. 14 sponsored by the Walnut Creek Intermediate Parent Teacher Association. They had to answer a range of questions about their experience and views on such issues as school budget woes, class sizes, standardized testing and teacher tenure. 

Walnut Creek Patch asked the candidates how campaigning had changed for them. Here's what some of them told us. 

"Last time I ran, all I did was use e-mail to let my friends know," said incumbent Angela Borchardt.

She said the campaign has been "a lot of work," though she did not raise or spend a lot of money (well under the $1,000 threshold that requires filing paperwork). In the end, spending more time on the campaign was good, Borchardt said. "It was good for me to reflect on why I want to continue to serve on the board." 

Incumbent Barbara Pennington likewise has found benefits to campaigning, which she didn't have to do the previous three times she ran.  She has not asked for contributions but spent about $500 on things such as yard signs and fliers. "Although it takes a tremendous amount of energy, having to campaign is a good thing. I've had to think through what I bring to the position, have heard through the candidate forum and questions from the press what issues the community is most concerned about and have had to assess the decisions I have made as an incumbent."

She adds that she has learned new skills: "I built my own website," Pennington said, which you can access here. 

The only nonincumbent who responded to Walnut Patch's question about campaigning was Robert Stankus, who said his intention was to approach this campaign in a "grass-roots" manner, "utilizing the print and electronic media, public forums and word-of-mouth through the community members that know me and have worked with me in school-related endeavors."

He, too, agreed to limit his expenditures to under $1,000, and has spent about $880 on signs, buttons and Rossmoor news ads.

According to the Contra Costa Elections Division, the only candidate to exceed the $1,000 spending limit was Jon-Michael Johnson, who received $2,550 in contributions, $950 of that from himself. He also has spent $2,161 on his campaign, according to campaign finance documents. 

Since, the fifth candidate, Tobias Lester, did not respond to this question about campaigning, it's not known how much he has spent, though his signs are plentiful around town.