In Rancho Santa Fe School District, a field of seven candidates with only one incumbent vied for three available seats. Kate Butler, a parent who has chaired the Rancho Santa Fe Education Foundation for the last three years, has pulled into the top spot with 21.33% of the vote. Parent Kerry Vinci and the incumbent president Annette Ross look to secure a place in the top three. Ross has a 394 vote lead over candidate Maria Luoni.

In San Dieguito Union High School District Area 4, incumbent Michael Allman is leading challenger and political campaign consultant Kevin Sabellico with 52.59% of the vote, or 6,574 votes to Sabellico’s 5,926.

The Area 4 seat represents the communities of Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Carmel Valley.

The race is tighter in San Dieguitos Area 2 with Encinitas Union School District board member Jodie Williams currently leading with 50.40% and Kelly Friis, parent and finance professional, closely behind her at 49.60%—just 112 votes separating the two.

Area 2 represents Encinitas and Carlsbad on the school board.

Three seats were up for election in a contested Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District board race with six candidates in the mix. The incumbent Nancy Hillgren, a longtime community volunteer with over 20 years of experience on the board leads with 21.5% of the vote.

James Ashcraft, who has served on the board for 28 years, is primed for another re-election with 18.7% while newcomer Kevin Barnard, with 17% of the vote, appears to be edging out the incumbent Randall Malin. Barnard is a retired San Diego police officer whose father and brother were both career firefighters with the San Diego Fire Department.