School Board Election May Cost About $50K

The price of democracy: It could be about $50,000.

That's a possibility this fall in a school board race in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. Because John Lane, 25, decided to become the fourth person to run for three open seats on the board of trustees, the race becomes contested, sparking additional costs.

The price tag—which accounts for the cost of printing district election information on the ballot—was estimated by district spokesman Terry Koehne, citing the cost of the 2006 race when the same number of candidates ran for the same number of seats.

Lane, a California High School graduate, grew up in San Ramon schools and wanted to try his hand at local politics, though he was concerned that vying for one of the three seats up for election in November would cost the district some cash.

With three open seats and four candidates, the race will go to the general election ballot, and the top three vote-getters will fill the spots. Had the race remained among three candidates, there would have been no need to put the decision to voters and no need to incur the cost of an election.

"I'm trying to get some experience," said the San Ramon native. "How is my generation supposed to gain that experience in local politics unless we run for an office like this? It's just the cost that makes this decision so difficult."

Now that he's filed, though, it's become a contest of elders against youth, experience against relative inexperience. And for Lane, another worry is whether he'll create bad blood. He realizes there's a chance he'll alienate longtime board members or school employees by running up a tab when the district has had to pare back its budget in the midst of a protracted recession.

School board president Rachel Hurd, 46, and Ken Mintz, 53, are running to retain their seats. A third candidate, newcomer Denise Jennison, 45, filed to run as well.

Bill Clarkson, 58, a 12-year trustee who's bowing out when his term expires at the end of the year, said it's important for voters to get to choose from a variety of candidates, but he questions Lane's motives.

"Every voter has a right to run for office and should never be denied that opportunity," said Clarkson. "It's part of the American right. The only question people would ask is why is (Lane) running? Is it to get experience? A person has to prove themself … they have to get their name out there so people know who they're voting for."

The difference between Lane and the others, Clarkson points out, is that the older candidates have experience volunteering and working in local schools. Even Jennison, who's never been a trustee, has made a name for herself in the local education community from several years of involvement. And like other veteran candidates, she has children who attend schools in the district.

Lane does have a background in education. He's a program director for California State University, East Bay, where he earned a master's degree in marketing this summer and a bachelor's degree in business economics three years ago. He's held down a full-time job for the Hayward-based university for two-and-a-half years.

As someone who's grown up in San Ramon schools, he said he has deep roots in the district and cares about the future of its government. He was a varsity athlete and a highly involved student. Though he doesn't have children, he said when he does, they'll attend local public schools.

"This is personal to me," said Lane, who spent all but five years of his life living in San Ramon. "I care about our schools. It's part of my upbringing, and I think I can bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the table."

Friday would have been the deadline to file for candidacy, but when an incumbent doesn't file—that's Clarkson in this case—the deadline gets extended. Now, candidates have until Aug. 11 to file.

Aside from the cost to the district, Clarkson said with Lane in the race, other candidates may feel some added pressure to raise more money this election season. A challenger four years ago raised about $20,000 and finished in a distant fourth, he pointed out.

"That's a lot of effort for someone who didn't even win," Clarkson noted.

Jennison said Lane's decision to run won't spur her to raise more money this election cycle because she believes she's made enough of a name for herself in the community.

"We live in a democracy, and I think our district is very lucky to have people who care enough about the children to serve them," she said. "I certainly can't comment on Mr. Lane because I don't know him at all."

She said the fact that he's young doesn't faze her, but that involvement in local education prior to a run for a seat in office is what's important in this election.

"I don't think one's age disqualifies or qualifies you to serve," she said. "I think what does qualify you to serve is an awareness and to truly grasp the depth of the decisions that are being made and to have firsthand experience in what works and what doesn't work."

Lane said he realizes he hasn't "paid his dues" in the Parent Teacher Association, or had kids of his own to enroll in local schools, but that he feels ready to contribute what he has learned to the school district that groomed him for college and readied him for a promising career in the educational field.

"The end goal is to get students through college," he said. "I know about that. I value the education I had in the district because it helped me achieve that."

At a glance

The deadline for candidates to register for the school board election is Aug. 11. For information, go to www.cocovote.us.