Yuba City Unified School District elections (2014)

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2014 Yuba City Unified School District Elections
General Election date:
November 4, 2014
Table of Contents
About the district Method of election Elections What was at stake? Key deadlines Additional elections External links
See also
California Yuba City Unified School District Sutter County, California ballot measures Local ballot measures, California

Four seats on the Yuba City Unified School District Board of Education were up for general election on November 4, 2014.

Incumbent Steven Scriven won re-election against challenger Heidi Smyth and retained the Trustee Area 2 seat. Fellow board members Michael Hudson, Fred Northern and Lonetta Riley faced newcomer Paul Broughton for the three Trustee Area 3 seats. Hudson was defeated in the general election, where Broughton earned the most votes followed by Riley and Northern.

About the district

See also: Yuba City Unified School District, California

Yuba City Unified School District is located in Sutter County, California.

Yuba City Unified School District is located in Sutter County, California. The county seat of Sutter County is Yuba City. Sutter County is home to 3,211,252 residents, according to the United States Census Bureau. In the 2011-2012 school year, Yuba City Unified School District was the 124th-largest school district by enrollment in California and served 13,228 students.

Demographics

Sutter County outperformed the rest of California in terms of higher education achievement in 2012. The United States Census Bureau found that 34.4 percent of Sutter County residents aged 25 years and older had attained a bachelor's degree compared to 30.5 percent for California as a whole. The median household income for Sutter County was $63,373 compared to $61,400 for the state of California. The percentage of people below poverty level for Sutter County was 13.9 percent while it was 15.3 percent for the state of California.

Racial Demographics, 2013
Race	Sutter County (%)	California (%)
White	76.6	73.5
Black or African American	5.6	6.6
American Indian and Alaska Native	1.3	1.7
Asian	11.7	14.1
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0.6	0.5
Two or more races	4.2	3.7
Hispanic or Latino	32.9	38.4

Presidential Voting Pattern, Sutter County
Year	Democratic Vote	Republican Vote
2012	626,957	536,726
2008	666,581	541,032
2004	526,437	596,033
2000	437,666	475,736

Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Voter and candidate information

The Yuba City Unified Board of Education consists of seven members elected by trustee area to four-year terms. There was no primary election, and the general election was held on November 4, 2014. Four seats were up for election in 2014.

School board candidates had to file with their county elections department during the candidate filing period. The filing period began July 14, 2014, and ended August 8, 2014. To vote in the 2014 general election, voters had to register by October 20, 2014. Voters could request vote-by-mail ballots from October 6, 2014, through October 28, 2014.

Trustee Area 2

• Steven Scriven
  • Incumbent

• Heidi Smyth

Trustee Area 3

• Michael Hudson
  • Incumbent

• Fred Northern
  • Incumbent

• Lonetta Riley
  • Incumbent

• Paul Broughton

Election results

Trustee Area 2

Yuba City Unified School District,
Trustee Area 2 General Election, 4-year term, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Steven Scriven Incumbent	50%	6,659
	Nonpartisan	Heidi Smyth	49.1%	6,539
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.8%	108
Total Votes				13,306
Source: Sutter County Registrar of Voters, "Official Gubernatorial General Election Results, November 4, 2014," accessed January 2, 2015

Trustee Area 3

Yuba City Unified School District,
Trustee Area 3 General Election, 4-year term, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Paul Broughton	27.8%	8,077
	Nonpartisan	Lonetta Riley Incumbent	24.4%	7,093
	Nonpartisan	Fred Northern Incumbent	23.8%	6,926
	Nonpartisan	Michael Hudson Incumbent	23.6%	6,866
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.4%	127
Total Votes				29,089
Source: Sutter County Registrar of Voters, "Official Gubernatorial General Election Results, November 4, 2014," accessed January 2, 2015

Endorsements

Trustee Area 3 challenger Paul Broughton received an endorsement from the Sutter County Democratic Central Committee.

Campaign finance

Candidates had to file contribution reports within 24 hours of receiving an aggregate total of $1,000 or more from a single source. The first scheduled pre-election report filing deadline was October 6, 2014. If candidates raised or spent less than $1,000 during the 2013 and 2014 calendar years, they had to file Form 470 at that time. If candidates raised or spent more during that time, they had to file Form 460 by the pre-election report filing deadline.

Candidates required to file Form 460 also had to file a second pre-election report on October 23, 2014, and they had to file termination reports by December 31, 2014. If a termination report was not filed, candidates had to file a semi-annual report by February 2, 2015.

The Sutter County Election Department does not publish and freely disclose school board candidate campaign finance reports.

Past elections

Information about earlier elections can be found by clicking [show] at the right.

2012 Yuba City Unified School District, Trustee Area 1 General Election, 4-year term, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan John Amarel 30.5% 9,224      Nonpartisan Sharman Kobayashi Incumbent 28.8% 8,709      Nonpartisan Mike Johnston 24% 7,268      Nonpartisan Zac Repka 16.4% 4,957      Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.4% 109 Total Votes 30,267 Source: Sutter County Election Department, "Official 2012 Presidential General Election Results," accessed August 19, 2014 Yuba City Unified School District, Trustee Area 2 General Election, 4-year term, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Herbert Cooley Incumbent 55.9% 10,768      Nonpartisan Angel Diaz 43.3% 8,334      Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.7% 144 Total Votes 19,246 Source: Sutter County Election Department, "Official 2012 Presidential General Election Results," accessed August 19, 2014 2010 Yuba City Unified School District, Trustee Area 2 General Election, 4-year term, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Steven Scriven Incumbent 52.2% 8,444      Nonpartisan Kenneth Berri 46.9% 7,587      Nonpartisan Write-in votes 1% 156 Total Votes 16,187 Source: Sutter County Election Department, "Official Consolidated Statewide General Election Results," accessed August 19, 2014 Yuba City Unified School District, Trustee Area 3 General Election, 4-year term, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Michael Hudson 25.1% 8,827      Nonpartisan Lonetta Riley Incumbent 22.5% 7,902      Nonpartisan Fred Northern Incumbent 15.6% 5,474      Nonpartisan Brenda Thompson 13.2% 4,656      Nonpartisan Teresa Ball 11.7% 4,123      Nonpartisan Hardial Dulay 11.6% 4,073      Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.4% 134 Total Votes 35,189 Source: Sutter County Election Department, "Official Consolidated Statewide General Election Results," accessed August 19, 2014

What was at stake?

2014

Issues in the election

Candidate survey answers

The six candidates who ran for school board provided the following answers to a survey conducted by The Appeal-Democrat. Paul Broughton's answers to the last two questions were cut off when the survey was published and therefore could not be included here.

“	Tell us about yourself. Steven Scriven: A lifelong resident of Sutter County, I have a vested interest in our schools ... I retired as a teacher from YCUSD and have sons and a grandson who attended. ... I have served on committees on personnel, budget, public relations and master facilities planning. I have been a member of the Sutter County Fish and Game Commission for the past 30 years ... to promote youth and adult programs centered around wildlife in Sutter County. Heidi Smyth: My husband and I have four children who have attended or are attending YCUSD schools. I have served as a site council board member, parent club president and vice president, and worked in the after school program at Riverbend Elementary. Formal education: BYU Provo, Yuba College. Job experience: Telecommunications consultant, owned and operated a family daycare, youth sports coach, childcare aide at Riverbend Elementary afterschool program. Michael Hudson: As a retired police officer with more than 25 years investigating gang members and drug traffickers, I know first-hand how important an education is to becoming a successful and productive person. Effective public education, provides students the opportunity to learn from and interact with people from all different socioeconomic, ethnic and racial backgrounds. A quality public education provided in a positive, safe and productive environment equips students with the skills necessary to succeed in today's diverse world. Fred Northern: I'm a long-time Yuba City resident (50-plus years) and an involved parent to three wonderful adult children (who received a great education from Yuba City Unified Schools, as did I). I am self-employed, work locally and enjoy living here. Yuba City Unified, and the education it provides its students, is a vital part of the local economic viability. My years on the school board has garnered me lots of experience in dealing and understanding school related issues. Lonetta Riley: My advocacy and experience in education began in 1970 while teaching at the University of Nebraska, witnessing the challenges of often ill-prepared freshmen. As a probation officer, I understood the importance of education in the development of our students. As a member of the Sutter County Juvenile Justice Commission, I addressed the challenges facing area youth. I have taught high school and college for more than 30 years. I have earned a BS in sociology and MS in counseling. Paul Broughton: Background: Retired high school principal; doctorate in education, USIU, San Diego. I began my career in education as a high school teacher and coach ... I served on the Yorba Linda school board for three years. Vice principal, Marysville High School. Principal ... Laytonville, Red Bluff, Gridley and Oroville. ... I became the principal of Notre Dame Elementary and created New Day Charter School. During my time as a school administrator, I was an adjunct professor for Chapman/Brandman University for 16 years. ... What are your top priorities for the district? Steven Scriven: My top priorities for the district: Rigorous curriculum that prepares students for the future; updated facilities that are technology equipped; safe school environment for students and staff; career pathway program that would give students the soft skills needed for employment beyond high school; a stable and transparent budget; and maintain our extracurricular programs and clubs. Heidi Smyth: I want to help ensure each child's school experience is a positive one, where they feel safe and accepted; create a welcoming environment for parents, thus facilitating more open lines of communication between school and home; offer GATE classes/and or advanced classes — I believe our kids should have this option restored; and student-based education. Michael Hudson: My priorities are: Develop and improve strategies to increase the academic achievement of all students. Ensure all students are college or career ready upon graduation by maintaining and improving the quality of education provided by YCUSD. Increase the opportunities for every student to participate in enrichment programs and advance course work such as: AVID, music/arts, GATE, AP courses, ROP and ag courses. Increase programs and methods of communication for parents to participate and provide support for improving student achievement. Continue to develop strategies to decrease suspensions and expulsions while maintaining a positive and productive learning environment. Fred Northern: My top priorities remain to be what they always have been: 1) Provide the best possible learning opportunities for all students in a clean, safe environment; 2) attract and retain the best possible staff; and 3) make transparent decisions after consideration of as much information and as many opinions as practical. Lonetta Riley: My priorities are as follows: (1) providing a safe school environment where students can thrive emotionally and academically; (2) provide programs that ensure students graduate and are college- and career-ready; (3) continue to maintain and improve school facilities; and (4) continue to provide and encourage the communication and involvement of parents, staff and the community with a focus on student achievement. I believe when our students succeed, our community succeeds. We must continue to prepare and protect this natural resource. Why do you think you are the best candidate? Steven Scriven: My experience as both a teacher and a board member for YCUSD, as well as being a lifelong member of the community, have given me an insight into the needs of our school district as it relates to teachers, students and community. Heidi Smyth: Over the years, I have spent a lot of time volunteering in this district. I have witnessed things that need to be changed and believe I have the knowledge and drive to help fix them. I am energetic and will fight for the students in our community. Because I have children currently in school, I am aware of what is happening and how it is affecting teachers and students. I care. Not only about the kids, but the teachers, administration and support staff. Michael Hudson: As a current school board member, I have and will continue to develop and promote programs that improve the quality of education provided by YCUSD. I consistently seek input from all involved parties, including parents, students and community partners, in priority setting and informed decision-making. I actively encourage teamwork in creating positive productive learning environments for students. I continuously strive for increasing extra-curricular activities, sports, access to college, career counselors, enhancing intervention and social/emotional support programs. Fred Northern: My only agenda continues to be to try to do what is best for the students, staff and community of Yuba City Unified. I have the passion, experience, knowledge, time and personality to carry out that agenda. My background is not from education, and I believe my perspective adds to the strength of the board and therefore the school district. It is a continued honor to serve the voters of Yuba City Unified. Lonetta Riley: I have been committed to education for more than 30 years. As a board member, I have addressed budget issues while providing necessary resources to all students to ensure their academic success. I promote increasing opportunities for students, parents, and staff to provide input in school and district decisions. I have the commitment, experience and understanding necessary to be a member of the Board. I appreciate the confidence the community has place in me. I continue to listen and learn.	”
—The Appeal-Democrat survey (2014)

Key deadlines

The following dates were key deadlines for the Yuba City Unified School District election in 2014:

Deadline	Event
July 14, 2014	First day for candidates to file nomination documents
August 8, 2014	Last day for candidates to file nomination documents
October 6, 2014	Early voting begins
October 20, 2014	Last day to register to vote
October 28, 2014	Last day to vote by mail ballot
November 4, 2014	Election Day

Additional elections on the ballot

This election shared the ballot with general elections for U.S. House seats, California state executive offices, state Senate and state Assembly seats. It also shared the ballot with county, municipal and judicial elections.

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Yuba + City + Unified + School + District + California"

Yuba City Unified School District News Feed

See also

• California
• Yuba City Unified School District, California
• California school board elections, 2014
• List of school board elections in 2014
• School board elections, 2014
• Sutter County, California ballot measures
• Local ballot measures, California

External links

Suggest a link

• Yuba City Unified School District
• Sutter County Election Department