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This is among the most critical elections for Sunol Glen Unified School District in recent memories because all three Board of Trustees seats are on the Nov. 8 ballot – in addition to the $10.9 million Measure J school facilities bond. Two school board positions are up for full four-year terms while the other is for a special two-year short term.
As we weigh the three candidates competing for the two full terms, we see incumbent Ryan Jergensen and challenger Peter “Ted” Romo as the best options.
Jergensen has served on the board for nearly two years in an appointed capacity and is ready to expand his role into a four-year position. He is the most qualified, well-informed candidate to represent SGUSD’s and local families’ interests on the board moving forward. Jergensen has his priorities as trustee in the right places and he understands the needs of the small district, including the importance of Measure J.
For the other at-large full position, Romo has shown himself to be the standout newcomer. A corporate attorney whose children attended Sunol Glen School and wife previously served on the school board, Romo is focused on vital objectives for the district, including supporting students enrollment and teacher retention, embracing diversity and upgrading the school campus. He also wisely espouses commonsense, reasonable decision-making.
We commend the third candidate, James Lowder, for wanting to serve his youngest kids’ school district in a more in-depth manner. While his professional construction background would be beneficial, especially if Measure J passes, his lack of hands-on volunteer or leadership with SGUSD specifically just puts him a rung below his two competitors.
For the short-term seat, serving through the 2024 general election, we offer tepid support for Chris Bobertz over Linda Hurley. Both challengers here did not respond to our endorsement questions, so we’ve relied on our reporter’s news interviews and our other research.
Bobertz stands out just ahead because of his IT logistics background, the fact he has two students currently in the school (and a third on the way there soon), and his knowledgeable support of Measure J and why he feels the bond is necessary to address facility failings at Sunol Glen School. It is unfortunate that Bobertz did not answer our inquiry, which could have led to a stronger endorsement.
Hurley is a longtime Sunol resident, nurse and former teacher whose five children all attended Sunol Glen School. We like that she supports fiscal accountability and transparency, but we were dismayed by her lack of commitment to our reporter on the question of whether she publicly supports or opposes Measure J. Regardless of what side of this or any issue, a trustee must be open and firm about their perspectives.