Amore Blakemore, left, talks with candidate Brenda Zamora during a candidate forum for CCSD School Board District D candidates at the East Las Vegas Library Thursday, May 5, 2022. The forum was organized by the Clark County Conservative Coalition and Vote Nevada.
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 | 6:26 p.m.
Incumbents were behind in two of three races for the Clark County School Board as of this evening.
Brenda Zamora was leading Irene Cepeda in the east valley’s District D, 57% of the vote to 43%. Irene Bustamante Adams was ahead of Danielle Ford in the southwest valley’s District F, 52.8% to 47.2%.
Linda Cavazos, who is going for her second full, elected term in District G, was ahead of Greg Wieman, 54.9% to 45.1%. District G covers parts of east Las Vegas and north Henderson.
The frequently divided School Board often votes 4-3, especially on hot-button issues like the continued employment of Superintendent Jesus Jara. Typically, Ford, Cavazos and Board Member Lisa Guzman, whose seat is not up for election this year, form the minority 3-vote bloc.
Cepeda and Ford are also vying for second terms.
The District F race has the smallest gap between the candidates, with Bustamante Adams, a former Nevada assemblywoman, leading Ford by 3,580 votes.
“I’m waiting to comment until every vote is counted because I believe in the voting process and don't want to discount any voters,” Ford said today.
Zamora led Cepeda by 5,167 votes. Cavazos led Wieman by 6,690 votes. Cavazos’ district also had the most participation, with more than 68,000 votes counted.
“I am honored and grateful to have been reelected by my constituents in District G. To have over 36,000 people have faith in my continuing to be their voice on the Board is very humbling,” Cavazos said. “I will do my best to not let them down.”
Thousands of local ballots remain to be counted. In Clark County, 14,718 ballots were dropped off Monday or delivered by mail that will be added to the total by the end of today. The county received another 12,700 ballots by mail today and a “considerable” number of ballots dropped off Tuesday, Clark County Election Department Registrar of Voters Joe Gloria said at a press conference today.
Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day must be received by Saturday to be counted. It may be next week before the winners of some Nevada elections are determined.
CCSD School Board races, unlike Nevada’s closely watched races of statewide and national interest, are by geographic districts. It was unclear how many uncounted ballots came from districts D, F and G.
Cepeda conceded today, though, saying that while there are still votes yet to be tabulated, she didn’t expect to overcome the gap. She said she hopes to meet with Zamora to discuss the position.
Cepeda, who is this year’s Board president, said the votes reflect what the community wants, and “I’m super supportive of our democratic process.”
