The filing period for the Nov. 3, 2026, school board elections closed last Friday, setting the stage for several contested races across the Santa Clarita Valley.

Several longtime incumbents did not file for re-election, creating open seats in the William S. Hart Union High, Newhall and Saugus Union school districts.

William S. Hart Union High School District

Trustee Area 2

Incumbent Bob Jensen did not file for re-election, creating an open seat.

Bryan Biggers, a Hart High School graduate, co-founder of Victory Builders and elder at Grace Baptist Church, filed for the seat.

Julee Brooks, chief executive officer of Woodcraft Rangers, also filed. According to her campaign website, Brooks is the parent of a Hart High School student and another child who will enter the district in the coming years.

Trustee Area 3

Incumbent Cherise Moore was the only candidate to file for the seat and is set to win another term unless a write-in candidate emerges.

Trustee Area 5

Incumbent Joe Messina filed for re-election.

He is set to face off against Stacy Fortner, a Santa Clarita resident of more than 30 years who lists degrees in business management and water systems technology.

Newhall School District

Trustee Area 1

Incumbent Donna Robert did not file for re-election.

Michelle Kampbell was the only candidate to file for the open seat. Michelle and her family have lived in Santa Clarita for nearly two decades. She has previously worked in aerospace compliance and as a casework manager for the California State Assembly.

Trustee Area 2

Incumbent Rachelle Haddoak filed for re-election. Haddoak currently serves as president of the district’s governing board and works as an educator in the Hart district.

Trustee Area 3

Incumbent Ernesto A. Smith also filed for re-election. Smith serves as an information technology manager and has served on the board since 2022.

Saugus Union School District

Trustee Area 1

Incumbent Patti Garibay did not file for re-election, creating a three-candidate race.

Natalie Epstein, a small-business owner and district parent, filed for the seat.

Larry Grable, a business owner and parent, also filed.

Kevin Kim rounds out the field for the open seat.

Trustee Area 2

Incumbent Anna Griese filed for re-election.

She will face challenger Alisa Gentry, a parent and emergency medical technician.

Trustee Area 5

Incumbent Christopher Trunkey filed for re-election.

Retired SUSD educator Cindy Hallman also filed for the seat.

Sulphur Springs Union School District

All three Sulphur Springs Union School District incumbents whose seats are up for election filed for re-election.

Paola Jellings filed in Trustee Area 3, Ken Chase filed in Trustee Area 4 and Lori MacDonald filed in Trustee Area 5.

No challengers had filed for any of the three seats as of the close of the filing period.

Election officials are expected to certify the candidate list in the coming weeks.

Castaic Union School District

Three incumbents filed to retain their seats on the board. The district previously announced that Trustee Areas B, D and E would be on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot.

Trustee Area B

Laura Pearson, the current board president, is a longtime Castaic resident who has served in numerous volunteer roles in local schools, including PTA and PTSA leadership positions. She has served on the governing board and cites her experience in district governance and community involvement as key qualifications.

Trustee Area D

Vincent Titiria, the current Trustee Area D representative, filed for another term on the board. He was appointed to the seat in 2024 and is seeking election to a full term.

Trustee Area E

Mayreen Burk, a Castaic resident since 2007, has been active as a school volunteer, Cub Scout leader and youth soccer referee. She operates an interior design business and has served on the district governing board representing Trustee Area E.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.