Incumbent John Ervin III leads in Modesto City Schools Area 2 board race

Early unofficial results from Stanislaus County show incumbent Modesto City Schools board member John Ervin III leading his opponents, Emma Sperling and Roman Messick. The most recent update from the Stanislaus County elections office, at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, shows Ervin III with 3,066 votes, or 46%.

Sperling has 2,098 votes, or 31.44%. Messick has 1,508 votes, or 22.6%.

So far, 33% of vote-by-mail ballots have been counted.

This central Modesto area encompasses schools including Davis and Downey high schools and Elliott Alternative Education Center.

Ervin has served on the board since 2018. He is also a mentor for Project UPLIFT, a community and after-school mentoring and education program for at-risk youth, and has been endorsed by the Modesto Teachers Association.

Sperling is a mother of two children who both attend Modesto City Schools. She wants to prioritize representing students' interests by enhancing communication between families, schools and the district. Sperling also aims to expand college credit opportunities for high school students and to support students interested in both college and vocational paths, preparing them for future leadership in the community.

Messick is a longtime resident of Modesto with a decade of experience in insurance claims management . According to Messick's website, he aims to enhance parent communication, promote community-driven decision-making in schools and implement dual technical training programs that offer both high school and college credits for students.

Both Ervin and Sperling believe facilities at Modesto City Schools are a big issue with its fourth bond measure in the last six years on the ballot.

Ervin believes facility upgrades are crucial for creating productive learning environments. Sperling supports responsibly funding infrastructure upgrades but emphasizes the importance of effective maintenance and thorough contractor work to ensure sustainability.

This seven-member body oversees city schools' policies, curricula, budget and staffing. Board members will be sworn into office at the school board meeting on Dec. 16.