This year, the terms of two members of the Claremont Unified School District Board of Education—Hilary LaConte and Sam Mowbray—expired. Candidates were expected to vie for the two empty seats in the local and municipal election set for November 3.

However, as of the August 7 deadline for the election, only two candidates had thrown their hats in the ring. As a result, there will be no election.

While Sam Mowbray has opted not to run for office again, Hilary LaConte, who first joined the board in 2007, will once again take to the dais. The second spot will be filled by Beth Bingham, who served on the school board previously from 2007 to 2010.

What a difference a couple of years makes. In 2013, three seats were open and five hopefuls declared their candidacy. After a hotly contested race, school board stalwart Steven Llanusa was re-elected, with newbies Nancy Treser Osgood and Dave Nemer also gaining the community’s vote of confidence.   

Ms. Bingham will have her first school board meeting in December. In the meantime, she has been seen in the crowd at the last several board meetings, helping to ensure that she is up to speed on the latest issues and decisions facing CUSD.

—Sarah Torribio

storribio@claremont-courier.com