Allyson Damikolas

Allyson Damikolas is a member of the Tustin Unified School District school board in California, representing Trustee Area 1. She assumed office on December 11, 2020. Her current term ends on December 8, 2028.

Damikolas ran for re-election to the Tustin Unified School District school board to represent Trustee Area 1 in California. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Damikolas (Democratic Party) also ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 40th Congressional District. She lost in the primary on March 5, 2024.

Damikolas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Allyson Damikolas was born in Fullerton, California. Damikolas graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1999. Her career experience includes working as an engineer.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Elections

2024

Tustin Unified School District

General election

General election for Tustin Unified School District school board Trustee Area 1

Incumbent Allyson Damikolas defeated Joe Portera in the general election for Tustin Unified School District school board Trustee Area 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Allyson Damikolas (Nonpartisan)	71.2	7,418
	Submit photo	Joe Portera (Nonpartisan)	28.8	2,997

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,415
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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U.S. House

California's 40th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 40

Incumbent Young Kim defeated Joe Kerr in the general election for U.S. House California District 40 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Young Kim (R)	55.3	211,998
	Joe Kerr (D)	44.7	171,637

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 383,635
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 40

Incumbent Young Kim and Joe Kerr defeated Allyson Damikolas in the primary for U.S. House California District 40 on March 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Young Kim (R)	56.4	109,963
✔	Joe Kerr (D)	25.6	49,965
	Allyson Damikolas (D)	18.0	35,153

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 195,081
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Damikolas received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Damikolas's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.

EMILY's List

2020

General election

General election for Tustin Unified School District school board Trustee Area 1

Allyson Damikolas defeated incumbent Tammie Bullard and Kirk Hahn in the general election for Tustin Unified School District school board Trustee Area 1 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Allyson Damikolas (Nonpartisan)	49.0	6,297
		Tammie Bullard (Nonpartisan)	39.5	5,081
	Submit photo	Kirk Hahn (Nonpartisan)	11.5	1,476

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,854
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Damikolas' endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2024

Tustin Unified School District

Ballotpedia survey responses

Allyson Damikolas did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

U.S. House

Ballotpedia survey responses

Allyson Damikolas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Damikolas' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Southern California, the oldest of four children. As a child, my family faced financial instability, and I quickly learned that education was the pathway to opportunity. I worked hard, eventually earning a chemical engineering degree. Education gave me access to stability and allowed me to help my family. Then, I had my children, and my daughters were born with a metabolic disease. Through my advocacy for them in their classrooms, I saw students in TUSD who deserved the same access to opportunity that I received: I grew a passion for advocating for all students. I served as PTO President, on several non-profit boards, and as a parent on the Special Education Community Advisory Committee. In 2020, I earned a spot on our Board. Since then, I’ve been able to increase my advocacy for the success of our 26 schools. We’ve implemented mental health care programs, connected families in need with community resources, and supported teachers. I bring a unique understanding of the power of education, years of experience and relationship building with local elected officials, and a commitment to our community to ensure every student gets access to the same resources that changed my life.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Preparing our kids for the future. Continue building our “Community Schools” to support the families of our Title 1 school students, expanding Career Technical Education opportunities, support teachers and families, and decreasing the achievement gap.
Keeping our student outcomes at the forefront of every discussion and recognizing that challenges to learning exist in our community. I will continue to bring these issues to light and will address overcoming those barriers to success.
Leading with common sense – Being mindful of our diverse needs across the district and addressing our community’s needs as the most important issue. Keeping partisan games out of making decisions on the best options for our children.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Policy concerning climate change and its impact on our school district is something that I am passionate about because it concerns all our futures, especially our young people. My most immediate concern is that we are already experiencing the very real impacts of climate change on our schools. One example is the rising temperatures of the asphalt surrounding many of our schools. On hot days, temperatures of the asphalt can reach upwards of 125℉. Together, we must create more practical, innovative policies and solutions while investing in developing students and advocates who can lead the way toward a more sustainable future.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a lifeguard at a large waterpark that catered to a very diverse population. I started as a teenager in high school at an entry-level position and ultimately became the manager of the department, overseeing about 300 seasonal lifeguards and the safety of thousands of guests. This job helped pay for my college tuition and taught me about quality leadership.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I am proud to be part of the Tustin community and participate in the overall community in various ways. Whether volunteering at one of our many community events or meeting with various community members, I have always prioritized listening. I will continue to be an active member of the Tustin and greater Orange County community so that we can find ways to improve problems together.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Tustin Educators Association and the California School Employees Association are among other organizations that have endorsed me. Please refer to my website at www.allysonfortustin.com for an updated list.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released August 20, 2020

Allyson Damikolas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Damikolas' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am running for the Tustin Unified School Board to bring fresh ideas and a solution-driven mindset toward working on behalf of over 23,000 students.

As a native Californian with roots going back several generations, I grew up determined to get a good education. Through hard work and perseverance, I earned a Chemical Engineering degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and became a respected engineer in environmental protection and public health. My husband Marc and I moved to Tustin ten years ago to raise our family.

As a mother of three students attending TUSD schools, PTO President at two schools, and a Special Needs Community Advisory Committee member, I'm honored to be endorsed by the Tustin Educators Association and California School Employees Association. I serve the greater community as a non-profit board member of the Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts. Through years of advocacy and collaboration, I've built strong, positive, and constructive relationships with parents, teachers, local non-profits, and civic leaders.

I will dedicate my time, experience, and passion for serving our community to address the needs and interests of all TUSD students while advocating to ensure the district fully addresses long-overlooked deficiencies in Area 1 schools.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Dedicate my time, experience, and passion in serving the needs and interests of all TUSD students while advocating to fully address deficiencies in Area 1 schools. A significant achievement gap exists between Area 1 students and their peers at schools in other parts of TUSD. Our vibrant community’s reputation requires that all our schools have a record of excellence. It’s time we had a real seat at the table. After 24 years with an incumbent focused on other areas, it is time for creativity and an engineer’s problem-solving perseverance to address this gap. Principles of equity and transparency guide my commitment toward helping every student reach their full potential and finally bringing Area 1 schools to the levels our students deserve.
Engage directly with Area 1 families and expand opportunities for public participation on critical issues impacting our students, our schools, our families, and our community. Welcoming fresh ideas and improving communication is essential to effectively addressing the ever-changing needs of our students, families, and school district. I look forward to working collaboratively with community stakeholders, community non-profits, local businesses, and civic leaders on behalf of our schools. I will continue my unwavering commitment to always serve in an open, transparent, and respectful manner.
Address the complex issues associated with COVID-19 and related challenges that we will confront long after students have safely returned to the classroom. This pandemic has tested us all. The health and welfare of TUSD students, teachers, district staff, our families, and our community must remain our highest priority. There will be economic impacts and lessons to learn as we make difficult decisions and implement policies that support student achievement across the district. We must ensure a robust and sustainable future for TUSD.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My highest public policy priority is ensuring equitable treatment for everyone. Ensuring access to public services and resources is one of our greatest values as a nation.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

School board members' primary responsibilities are oversight, resource management, and policy. My experience of bringing integrity, transparency, and effective representation of students, teachers, and the community in my professional and volunteer commitments are the values and skills I will bring to my role as a school board member.

Who are your constituents?

My accountability is to the voters, and my responsibility is to our students, teachers, staff, and community.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

As a PTO President and mother of three current TUSD students, two with special needs, I understand the role of advocacy. Area 1 includes the older parts of our city. Our schools were among the first built, and our students are among the most diverse, both culturally and economically. I understand the challenges and look forward to working to ensure that every student has the opportunity to happily and creatively reach their full potential.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I am proud of my record of leveraging partnerships and building effective collaborations to strengthen our community. I'm actively involved through PTO leadership and local non-profit boards. My experience allows me to engage support for key priorities effectively. I look forward to continuing to work with community stakeholders, community non-profits, local businesses, and civic leaders on behalf of our schools.

What will you do to build a better relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?

Having served as a PTO President at two schools, I have actively engaged TUSD parents and recruited their participation in supporting all of our TUSD students. Our district is stronger when parents and families feel they are being heard and respected. We must improve district communication, operate with greater transparency, and truly work with parents as partners in the important work of educating our next generation.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Allyson Damikolas campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House California District 40	Lost primary	$634,531	$634,531
Grand total			$634,531	$634,531
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

External links

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Candidate

U.S. House California District 40

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 29, 2020
↑ Allyson Muniz Damikolas for Congress, "About," accessed February 7, 2024
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 8, 2024

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 29, 2020

[2] Allyson Muniz Damikolas for Congress, "About," accessed February 7, 2024

[3] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 8, 2024

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Allyson Damikolas

Biography

Elections

2024

Tustin Unified School District

General election

General election for Tustin Unified School District school board Trustee Area 1

U.S. House

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 40

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 40

Endorsements

2020

General election

General election for Tustin Unified School District school board Trustee Area 1

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2024

Tustin Unified School District

Ballotpedia survey responses

U.S. House

Ballotpedia survey responses

2020

Video for Ballotpedia

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

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