Current board member Cherise Moore faced no opposition in the William S. Hart Union High School District’s school board election this year, meaning Bob Jensen and Joe Messina were the only incumbents who were challenged in their respective races.
Donna Roberts and Chris Werthe sought to replace nine-year board member Jensen on the Hart District board, while Kelly Trunkey and Jeffery Martin attempted to unseat Messina, the incumbent in Area No. 5.
Messina and Jensen were both able to secure the endorsement of their district’s teachers union — along with Moore — which had the pair feeling pretty confident going into election night.
With 10 percent of precincts reporting results around 8:45 p.m., Messina and Jensen were responsible for a little more than 50 percent of the votes in each of their respective races.
Donna Robert, who had secured 42 percent of the votes to that point, trailed Jensen by 500 votes, while Trunkey trailed by almost 1,000 votes exactly.
Messina and Jensen’s leads would remain steady going into midnight with dozens of precincts yet to report.
