Kevin Alfaro Wins School Board Election

By Jesse Duarte
STAFF WRITER
Thursday, November 05, 2009

Election results show that Kevin Alfaro has defeated Roger Adams for a seat on the St. Helena School Board by a 2-1 margin.

Alfaro has received 1,463 votes — 67.6 percent — compared with 696 votes — 33.2 percent — for Adams, according to preliminary results released Tuesday night by the Napa County Elections Department.

The votes already tallied represent 36 percent of the 6,039 registered voters in the school district boundaries. Between 175 and 275 ballots received after Saturday, Oct. 31 still haven’t been counted, said Registrar of Voters John Tuteur.

The remaining ballots will be included in a final certified count, which will be released Monday, said Tuteur. He said he hopes to deliver the certified canvass to the school board at their next meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 at Vintage Hall.

Superintendent Robert Haley said that after the district receives the election certification, the elected boardmember will be sworn in at the next regular meeting. Right now the district is anticipating getting the certification before the meeting and swearing in Alfaro on Nov. 12, said Haley.

Alfaro thanked his family and everyone who worked on his campaign, helped hand out flyers and wrote letters to the editor on his behalf.

He credited Sean Maher, Jeanne DeVincenzi, Nell Hungerford, Diane Beltrami, Kelly Rios, Kathy Zelazny, Maria Stel, Pavi Lawson, Lisa Pelosi, Molly Morales, and Alexandra and Jim Haslip, whose resignation created a vacancy on the board in May.

The campaign has benefited the community by raising important issues and getting people more engaged, said Alfaro.

“It’s neat to see how the community has embraced school district issues and really started paying attention and asking good questions,” he said. “That’s already affected how the board interacts with the community — they’ve changed how they run the meetings a little and more information is getting out.”

When contacted Wednesday morning, Adams said, “I just wish him well.”

Alfaro said his strategy during the first few school board meetings will be to “listen and learn.”

“I need to get up to speed on how the board interacts, how it handles information and how it works with the administration,” he said. “The first few months will be a learning process for me.”

“I’m so proud that Kevin not only complains about what needs be changed, but he also rolls up his sleeves and gets involved to make the change,” added Sallie Alfaro, Kevin’s wife. “It takes an engaged parent and community member to put their money where their mouth is. He questions and he looks for the right answers.”