INCUMBENT WOODS LOSING SEAT IN GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Update Nov. 8: With 100% of precincts counted and a portion of the late absentee ballots, Schreiber and Stieringer have retained solid leads.
By Miriam Raftery
November 7, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – In one of the most bitterly contested races in East County, incumbent Priscillla Schreiber won reelection handily with 95% of votes counted with 28.17% of the vote in the Grossmont Union High School District. A Republican, Schreiber has been an outspoken champion for building a new high school in Alpine--and a vocal critic of the board majority on a range of issues.
That majority may shift, with challenger Jim Stieringer in second place at 19.04%--ahead of incumbent Gary Woods, who has 18.66%. Woods has taken heat for his opposition to the Alpine High School at a time when a Grand Jury investigation is probing possible misallocation of bond monies approved by voters for projects including the high school in Alpine.
Though all three of the top vote-getters are Republicans, Stieringer has said that he supports an Alpine High School. On other contentious issues, such as Voting Rights Act compliance and whether or not to reauthorize the Superintendent’s contract, Stieringer could prove to be a swing vote.
Zach Miller, a university student and the lone Democrat in the race, currently has 15.12% of the vote, followed by education advocate Bill Weaver with 11.31% and wroter Barbara Stevens with 7.69%.
Schreiber has been the target of attacks by fellow member Jim Kelly, who penned a blistering editorial blasting Schreiber’s criticisms as “misleading” and accusing her of leaking information on the Grand Jury investigation for political reasons – a charge Schreiber has denied.
At election central in Golden Hall tonight, Schreiber told ECM she is delighted with her victory “especially after all those attacks.” She looks forward to continuing to serve parents, students and teachers in the district—and is hopeful that she will now gain support to finally fulfill will of voters who twice approved bond measures to fund the new high school.
The results are still too close to definitely call for Stieringer, who has said that if elected, one of his goals will be to restore civility to the board.