Three candidates are competing for two open seats on the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Board of Education in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, election.

Election results are pending. This article will be updated as election officials release vote totals.

Returns will be available through the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters’ election results page. Initial returns are unofficial.

John Craig, Linda Henigin and Avery Wang are on the ballot. Eligible district voters may select up to two candidates, according to the county’s final candidate list. Outgoing board members Shounak Dharap and Shana Segal did not seek re-election.

Who’s running

Avery Wang is a PAUSD parent, co-founder of the music-recognition app Shazam and a researcher at Apple. He raised $14,322 from 43 donors through June 30, according to Palo Alto Daily Post reporting on campaign finance filings. Wang advocates for advanced coursework and math acceleration, as described in his campaign platform.

John Craig is an engineer and PAUSD parent, according to his campaign biography. He raised $9,917 from 32 donors through June 30. He and Wang donated $1,000 to each other’s campaigns. Both received $100 from sitting board member Rowena Chiu, the Daily Post reported.

Linda Henigin is a PAUSD substitute teacher, classroom aide, parent and longtime volunteer, according to her campaign biography. She led early fundraising with $17,620 from 49 donors through June 30, the Daily Post reported. Her platform centers on academic achievement, wellness and belonging, and trust in district leadership, according to her campaign priorities.

Craig’s platform also emphasizes student mental health, technology and board accountability. Wang’s platform calls for preserving honors options and examining district spending. Henigin’s priorities include stronger mental health resources and retaining teachers and staff.

What’s at stake

Whoever wins inherits a district under financial pressure. PAUSD’s parcel tax renewal, Measure B, failed on June 2 with 62.44% support, short of the two-thirds supermajority required, according to the county’s certified results. The existing parcel tax generates nearly $17 million a year and expires in 2027, according to PAUSD.

The new board members will also work alongside Superintendent Jason Glass.

When to expect results

Vote centers close at 8 p.m. Pacific time Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the county’s election information. Readers can follow returns through the county’s official results page.

Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day can arrive through Nov. 10 and still be counted, according to the county’s ballot-return rules. Santa Clara County has until Dec. 3 to certify its results, according to its election calendar.