Newcomer Lenderman has lead in trustee race
Nov. 7—There could be an upset on the Lodi Unified School District Board of Education this year.
Victoria Lenderman extended her lead for the Area 2 seat over incumbent Gary Knackstedt, garnering 2,278 votes for 42.82% of ballots counted.
Knackstedt is second with 1,617 votes and Maia Aguirre is third with 1,425 votes.
As the parent of a student with special needs, Lenderman has spent many years advocating for improved services and resources in the classroom. She said that at every meeting, she is reminded her child is behind academically and the district does not have the resources, or a plan, to get him back on track.
Lenderman is currently a manufacturing quality engineering manager with Cepheid. She said she wants to apply her experience in manufacturing, engineering, project management, risk management, and process improvement to district administration.
An operations and administration representative at St. Mary's High School in Stockton for the last year, Aguirre has been active in numerous parent-teacher associations, participated in several Local Control and Accountability Plan committees and served on an ERC advisory committee over the last decade.
A former educator, Knackstedt spent 37 years in the district as a teacher, coach and athletic director at Lodi High School.
Since his election to the board, he served as president in 2019, and was named president a second time earlier this year.
Knackstedt said his motivation for seeking re-election is to do what is best for students and employees, and wants to give the former a great experience in order to become successful adults.
In the other school board contest, long-time incumbent Joe Nava (62.78%, 2,319) has maintained a comfortable lead over Joseph Gardea (1,375, 37.22%).
Nava, a former teacher and coach, has been on the board since 2016. Gardea is a 2024 graduate of Bear Creek High School.
Galt Union High School Trustee Patrick Maple is trailing challenger Karol Messersmith by two votes in his bid to retain his Area 3 seat.
Maple, a local contractor, has earned 454 votes in Sacramento County for 51.30% of ballots cast, and collected 457 in San Joaquin County for 48.67%. Challenger and Real Estate agent Karol Messersmith garnered 431 votes in Sacramento County for 48.70% of ballots cast, and 482 votes in San Joaquin County for 51.33% of ballots cast there.
The elementary school district's Measure H, which would secure $27 million to repair and upgrade facilities, as well as improve campus security, is on its way to passage as 3,572 residents voted in favor of the bond for 54.34% of ballots cast. Some 3,001 residents voted against the measure for 45.66% of ballots cast.
San Joaquin Delta College's Measure K, a $598 million bond proposal that would fund renovations at the 50-year-old Stockton campus, is passing with 57.4% (82,761) of voters supporting the measure. The measure needs 55% support to pass.
If it passes, the bond will be financed by an annual property tax of $16 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. School officials say the new tax would cost the typical property owner about $49 per year.
"We're really encouraged by the outpouring of support we've received," Measure K proponent Steve Reid said. "It's clear how important Delta College is to creating opportunities for local students and lifting up our local economy. There are lots more votes to count, but the trend is very positive and we can tell the community stands with Delta College."
