Miramonte High School students supporting Measure W line Moraga Way and Ivy Drive on Oct. 6, hoping to spur community support for schools. The Acalanes Union High School District measure would levy a $168 annual parcel tax for eight years to fund local high school programs, including teacher retention, advanced academic programs and smaller class sizes.
The ballot is big on Nov. 3, and Orinda residents have a lot of issues to vote on. Here’s a quick summary of the local elections and measures that will be decided Tuesday, starting with three elections that directly impact Orinda.
MORAGA ORINDA FIRE DISTRICT DISTRICT 3
John Donnelly and Steve Cohn are both vying to replace Steve Danziger, who decided not to run for re-election.
John Donnelly
Donnelly emphasizes the importance of the Moraga-Orinda Fire District (MOFD) working with other local agencies to coordinate prevention and response to wildfires. He believes communication with residents is crucial, and that developing a sense of urgency in Orinda homeowners will help lower the risk and spread of wildfires.
Steve Cohn
Cohn notes that the fire district is made up of two cities, and that each city’s needs and obligations must be considered when the board makes decisions. He also has concerns about MOFD’s fire-modeling software and whether it takes into full account the danger of rapidly spreading fires. But the best method to deal with fires is to prevent them, he believes, and wants a strong focus on prevention.
DISTRICT 4
Linda Stevens is challenging incumbent Mike Roemer for the seat representing Orinda’s District 4.
Linda Stevens
Stevens has studied emergency evacuations for UCLA, and her background as a geographer with a focus on wildfire mapping fits well with the issues confronting the MOFD board. She feels the presence of a woman on the board will add a new perspective, and her time as the CEO of a tech company has made her comfortable with financial issues and leadership.
Mike Roemer
Not only is Roemer an incumbent, he feels his experience and long-time service to the community give him insights into how best to communicate with residents about doing what needs to be done for better protection against wildfires. And though he acknowledged that Orinda and Moraga sometimes might have differing priorities, he believes the board must look at the district as a whole, not as two separate cities.
ORINDA CITY COUNCIL
There are three seats open for Orinda City Council this November, and three incumbents, Brandyn Iverson, Latika Malkani and Janet Riley, are running for the four-year terms. One newcomer, Juana Rudati, is also vying for a council seat.
Brandyn Iverson
Incumbent Iverson has spent the past year serving as Orinda’s mayor and is also finishing up her first term on the City Council. She served seven years on the city’s Planning Commission, including a position as chair from 2018 to 2020.
Low crime and fire preparedness is at the front of Iverson’s mind, as is the revitalization of Orinda’s downtown retail experience and walkability as part of the city’s Downtown Precise Plan. She has also emphasized the thoughtful management of city revenue and expenses, as well as working with state housing policies to create options that both meet housing needs and are in harmony with the vision of downtown Orinda.
Strong ties to community agencies, such as the school board and local fire district, are also priorities for Iverson.
Latika Malkani
Attorney and business owner Latika Malkani, also an incumbent, served as Orinda’s mayor last year, and has been on the City Council since 2022.
She stands for strong economic development and a vibrant downtown that both retains Orinda’s natural beauty and meets residents’ needs. Emergency preparedness for wildfire situations, meeting critical infrastructure needs – such as roads and sidewalks – and enhancing Orinda through downtown beautification and recreational offerings are priorities for Malkani.
She also aims to continue the decline of crime in the city, as well as neighborhood safety and enhanced e-bike safety programs.
Malkani stands for community, equity and inclusion, champions gun violence prevention, promotes cultural diversity and prioritizes equality of rights for the LGBTQ+ community.
Malkani has litigated and advised on policy for 30 years.
Janet Riley
Incumbent Riley has served since 2022, and has also been a city volunteer and leader for 35 years. She’s also served as president or chair of three Orinda school parent organizations and spent time heading the Orinda Garden Club, Girl Scout Troop 977 and the Santa Maria Church Social Justice Committee.
During her time on the Orinda City Council, Riley has served as a liaison to committees for local parks and recreation, the library, public arts and recognition of local history.
Riley cites wildfire and emergency preparedness for local schools as priorities, and she aims to balance the protection of Orinda’s small-town character with more practical local solutions.
E-bike safety, support for downtown businesses, the careful use of taxpayer dollars and rallying the community around solutions – all round out Riley’s goals.
Juana Rudati
Candidate for the Orinda City Council, physicist and local substitute teacher Rudati looks to use facts, evidence-based decisions and community participation to guide the city’s future.
Rudati aims to use such data to bolster safety for local students who walk and bike to school. She also prioritizes the efficiency of Orinda’s roads for daily travel, while also preserving safe evacuation for the community. The expansion of responsible access to, as well as the protection of, Orinda’s natural environment is also important to Rudati.
She also aims for a transparent city government, including the expansion of public access through remote participation and meeting recordings, and also regular opportunities for residents to speak directly with their council members.
ORINDA UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT, GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER
Four candidates – two incumbents and two challengers – are battling for two seats on the Orinda Union School District board.
Katie Shogan
The Board president and an incumbent, Shogan has a background as a public school teacher and administrator, and has served on the boards of a public school district and a private school. Student needs are top of mind for Shogan, as is support for quality educators. The issue of school funding is also important for Shogan.
Edda Collins Coleman
Coleman, another incumbent, is a longtime school volunteer who aims to sustain the quality of the curriculum and strengthen it. She also looks to foster mental health and social-emotional well-being, improve staffing recruitment and retention at local schools and advocate for a responsible budget. Coleman has served as both board president and vice president.
Chloe Aftel
Aftel is prioritizing transparency when it comes to decisions, which includes strong communication with families. Aftel stands for the protection of early, hands-on learning for young students that relies upon more traditional instruction methods, as opposed to screens and AI. Aftel emphasizes a holistic approach to student learning that doesn’t lean on standardized scoring, as well as less screen time for early grades.
John Chabalko
Chabalko is currently the co-president of the Wagner Ranch Parents Club, and has professional experience in leading large organizations. Chabalko stands by putting students first, bolstering communication and partnership with families, and support for educators. Partnership between schools and community is an aspect that Chabalko aims to build upon.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 2
The non-partisan District 2 race for the agency that supplies budget and fiscal oversight for all the school districts in Contra Costa County, among other lesser responsibilities, has three candidates pursuing one seat, including the incumbent.
Sarah Butler
Butler is the incumbent, and served on the Orinda Union School District (OUSD) Board of Trustees as well as playing roles in various Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) committees. She was first elected to the county Board of Education in 2018, and prioritizes making sure all students have equal access to opportunities and resources.
Sibyl Minighini
Minighini is a school psychologist who works at several school sites, and ran for AUHSD board in 2024. Her focus is on making sure students have proper support both academically and if they have disabilities, learning differences and mental health needs. Her direct experience with these issues is something that sets her apart, she believes.
Pam West
West, like Butler, served on the OUSD Board of Trustees, and wants to ensure that every student in the county gets all that they need to succeed in school. She also advocates for sustainable funding for schools, and wants to make sure there is collaboration with the communities of Contra Costa County.
CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT, DIRECTOR, DIVISION 2
The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District has a five-member Board of Directors, each elected to a four-year term. Two candidates are running for the Division 2 seat.
Michael McGill
Incumbent McGill, a licensed engineer, has served on the board since 2006 and is current president. He has run a California consulting firm for nearly 40 years, and his experience includes chairing the Contra Costa Workforce Development Board and Youth Committee and serving on the BART Measure RR Bond Oversight Committee, among a handful of other public service roles.
Brian Henderson
Henderson has nearly four decades of experience in wastewater engineering and management, and hopes to apply that experience as the district makes significant capital improvements in the near future. He also wants to prioritize long-term infrastructure upgrades.
CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT 16
Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
The Democratic incumbent has represented District 16 since 2018, and is the chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. She has also advocated for the environment and reproductive rights, and co-authored a law establishing comprehensive digital protections for children who interact with AI chatbots.
Joseph Rubay
The Republican challenger supports better funding for police services, and would also like to audit state agencies and cut wasteful programs. In addition, he would push for giving parents more control over classroom activities in California schools.
CALIFORNIA 10th
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Mark DeSaulnier
The Democratic incumbent has served in the House of Representatives since 2018, and serves on three House Committees: Ethics, Education and Workforce, and Transportation and Infrastructure. DeSaulnier wants to continue focusing on the homelessness crisis and the expansion of Bay Area housing.
Jeffrey Frese
The Republican challenger prioritizes affordability, cutting the high cost of insurance and trimming excessive regulation. He also would like to eliminate Daylight Savings Time.
BALLOT MEASURES
Measure W, Acalanes Union High School
Increases the current parcel tax within the district by $168 annually, effective July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2035. Passage of Measure W would bring the parcel tax to $469 per parcel. Exemptions would be in place for those 65 years or older or those receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or Supplemental Security Income for a disability.
The tax aims to provide funding for attracting and retaining highly-qualified teachers, continuing advanced STEM programs in schools and maintaining manageable class sizes.
Measure RTM, Public Transit Revenue Measure District
Aims to prevent major service cuts to BART, Caltrain, AC Transit and other systems, and would also support the systems’ safety, reliability, cleanliness and affordability. The transit tax would enact a 0.5% sales tax for Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and a 1% tax for San Francisco for 14 years. It would generate around $980 million annually.
