Karen Sher holds 58% of early returns in the race for Ventura County superintendent of schools, a position that provides services to Conejo Valley Unified and every other district in the county.
Her opponent, Maggie Marschner, had 42%, according to the Ventura County Star. The ballots counted so far include those received and processed before Election Day, both in person and by mail, and those cast in person on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Absentee ballots received and processed on or after Election Day will be added in the coming days and weeks.
If the lead holds, it would mark the first time a challenger has defeated an incumbent for the position since 1890, according to the Star's research. The race was the first contested superintendent election since 1998.
What the office does
The Ventura County superintendent runs the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE), which has a staff of about 700 and an annual budget of about $285 million. The office provides budget oversight, teacher training and other services to local school districts. It also oversees some charter schools and directly educates about 500 students in specialty programs such as special education, alternative and continuation schools.
The superintendent runs day-to-day operations and shares governing authority with the Ventura County Board of Education, a five-member elected body.
How the race unfolded
Incumbent superintendent César Morales finished third among three candidates in the June primary. Sher and Marschner advanced to the general election. It was the first general election ballot without an incumbent superintendent since 1934.
Sher is a teacher and a member of the Oxnard Union High School Board of Trustees. According to her campaign website, she attended Redwood Middle School and graduated from Westlake High School. Marschner is an education consultant and former teacher and principal.
Under Morales, the VCOE broke state law regarding employee pay and benefits dozens of times, according to a forensic audit commissioned by the Ventura County Board of Education, the Star reported. Among the findings: Morales gave himself a $16,000 bonus without board approval and gave top deputies lifetime health benefits without the required board approval. Both were later rescinded.
Conejo Valley board seat
Closer to home, Trustee Mike Teasdale appears headed for re-election to the Ventura County Board of Education seat representing the Conejo Valley area, with 57% of early returns.
In the board seat representing Moorpark and Simi Valley, Trustee Arleigh Kidd did not run for re-election. Kristina Pine led that race with 54% of early returns, while Scott Dettorre had 46%. Pine resigned from the Simi Valley Unified School District board in 2025 after it was discovered she violated conflict-of-interest rules when the district hired her husband as a teacher, the Star reported.
The next vote-count update was expected Thursday, Nov. 5.
