By admin 
Anna Molander Hermann and Paul Keefer led in early returns Tuesday night in the race for two seats on the Sacramento County Board of Education, with the winners set to serve until June 2030.
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Molander, who is running for the District 1 seat, is leading the race with about 35% of the vote. Dominique Donette is close behind at 33.4%. Davon Thomas has 22.2% and Ralph Merletti has 9.5%.
In District 3, Keefer is leading with roughly 53%. His opponent Annie Fischer has 47%.
“I am cautiously optimistic,” Keefer said following the early returns.
“Certainly I am so grateful for my community supporting me to continue the vital work of improving early literacy and supporting our teachers and support staff in the county. “
The seven-member board governs the Sacramento County Office of Education, which supports and oversees 13 public school districts and serves about 255,000 students.
Who are the District 1 candidates?
District 1, which covers central Sacramento neighborhoods including downtown, midtown, East Sacramento, Land Park, Oak Park and Curtis Park, includes Sacramento City Unified and small portions of Elk Grove Unified and Twin Rivers Unified.
Donette, a Sacramento native raised in Oak Park, is an educator and community organizer with nearly 20 years of experience in education, nonprofit leadership and policy advocacy. She has described education as a “pathway to freedom” and said schools should support students academically, socially and emotionally. If elected, Donette says she wants to close opportunity gaps, improve literacy and make sure county resources are directed toward historically underserved students.
Hermann is an attorney and mother of three children enrolled in Sacramento public schools. She has been involved in education advocacy for nearly two decades and has focused her campaign on fiscal oversight, special education and career readiness, and says her legal experience would help SCOE support districts with budget management. If elected, she says she would push for stronger services for students with special education and medical needs, better education at Juvenile Hall and programs that prepare students for careers.
Thomas is a lifelong Oak Park resident and graduate of St. Hope Public Schools. The youngest candidate in the race, Thomas has noted that he is the only man of color running, representing a demographic that makes up a significant share of students served by SCOE schools. If elected, he says he would push for more academic and mental health support for vulnerable students, stronger oversight of district budgets and local charters
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Merletti is a longtime resident of the Fruitridge area of Sacramento County who most recently worked as a parking lot attendant at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. According to his Ballotpedia entry, he has also worked as a substitute teacher and taught geography for the Riverside Community College District. He says schools should return to emphasizing the basics of reading and math, presented with “enthusiasm and courtesy and fun.”
Who are the District 3 candidates?
District 3, which encompasses Arden Arcade, McClellan Park, North Highlands and parts of Carmichael, includes parts of Sacramento City Unified, San Juan Unified and Twin Rivers Unified.
Keefer has held the District 3 seat since 2018. He was endorsed by several local officials, including fellow trustee Bina Lefkovitz, Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond and Rosario Rodriguez. Keefer has emphasized student achievement and school safety, pointing to his support for programs focused on bullying prevention, suicide prevention and substance-use prevention as a Trustee. In 2024, his tenure as an administrator at Pacific Charter Institute drew controversy when the state, on behalf of residents, challenged whether Keefer could hold public office. A judge tentatively ruled that Keefer’s dual positions did not constitute a conflict of interest.
Fischer, a state worker and community activist, would be serving in elected office for the first time if elected. Fischer received support from several local Democratic organizations and teachers unions, and says she will focus on supporting public schools and improving services for students, educators and school staff.
Twin Rivers Unified School District Trustee Area 6 race
Emmanuel Amanfor is leading the race for the Area 6 trustee seat on the Twin Rivers Unified School District board with 46.6% of the vote. The district serves about 25,000 students across parts of northern Sacramento County.
Amanfor is a parent and political advocate who moved to Sacramento in 2014. Amanfor has emphasized his experience serving on executive leadership boards and support for teachers.
Adrianne Gonzales holds second place with 35.6%. Eduardo “Lalo” Ochoa is third with 17.9%.
Trustee areas 2 and 4 are also up for reelection this year, but incumbents Sharon Reichelt and Stacey Bastian are running unopposed and will retain their seats.
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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 8:42 PM.