The Jurupa school board is in for a change after appointing a new board member Monday, Nov. 4.
Also, early election results that show two members behind in their races could lead to more changes.
Pamela Blynn was appointed as the new Jurupa Unified School District trustee during Monday night’s session.
LIVE ELECTION RESULTS: See a chart of the latest vote counts
Blynn and Maria Rangel, both longtime residents of Jurupa Valley, were interviewed Monday for the Trustee Area 1 seat that Robert Garcia left Oct. 11. Garcia’s resignation letter was sent to the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools and could not immediately be obtained Thursday afternoon, Nov. 7.
In the Tuesday, Nov. 5, election, board President Joseph Navarro and member Eric Ditwiler, who are seeking new terms, are both trailing their foes, results posted Thursday at 5 p.m. show.
Blynn, a 25-year Jurupa Valley resident, was appointed after a four-question interview with the remaining four board members.
She made it through the first round with nominations from members Ditwiler, Karen Bradford and Melissa Ragile. Blynn was appointed in the second round on a unanimous vote.
“The main reason I would like to be involved is to give back to the children,” Blynn said in her interview.
Blynn listed her charity work for the Jurupa Unified School District and said she has been committed to the district and community as a small business owner and the parent of district graduates.
“I liked your initial application,” Bradford told Blynn. “I was impressed with the student-focused answer.”
Ditwiler said Blynn’s community connections “would augment what we already have here, that outweighs the personal experience and true grit that Ms. Rangel would bring.”
Rangel, also a district parent, is a 35-year employee of the Rialto Unified School District who now works as an assistant director in food services.
She said her long history of working for a school district, experience as a PTA member, being a Jurupa alum and the parent of district alums help her understand community needs.
Navarro nominated Rangel in the first round but she did not get the votes to move on. He said the board faced a tough decision as both candidates were qualified and he admired their commitment and community work.
In the election, Navarro, the son of longtime Inland Empire activist Gil Navarro, who died in April, is trailing Raquel Ortiz Cornejo, who has 54.80% of the vote in Trustee Area 4. Navarro has 45.20%, results released Thursday Nov. 7, show.
Ditwiler, who has 31.37% of the Trustee Area 2 vote, is losing to Jenny Felix, who has 68.63%.
The next Riverside County Registrar of Voters update is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8.