Vallejo’s teacher union is spending big in school board races

VALLEJO – The Vallejo Education Association has made large contributions in both of Vallejo’s current school board races, giving $5,000 each to Trustee Area 3 candidate Irene Reynolds and Trustee Area 1 candidate Judith Lerner. 

VEA president Kevin Steele told the Vallejo Sun that the union, which represents teachers and other certificated staff such as nurses and counselors, decided to endorse these candidates after interviewing all candidates who were seeking endorsement.

“We are always interested in people who value public education and will put the needs of students first,” Steele said.

The contributions give a significant boost to each candidate’s campaign funds. Reynolds has reported raising $8,300, so VEA’s contribution makes up about 60% of her campaign dollars. Lerner has reported raising about $13,800, so VEA’s contribution makes up about 35% of her campaign dollars.

Reynolds worked for the district in various administrative positions for a little over 15 years, most recently as a safety and risk manager before she was laid off in June, and said she considers VEA members her colleagues. She told the Vallejo Sun she’s happy for the union’s support and she thinks her experience in the district influenced the union’s decision to support her.

“I am really appreciative to have the support of the teachers in VCUSD,” Reynolds said. “They know my work ethic, my integrity and my leadership. They are endorsing me because I understand the importance of supporting students in the classrooms.”

Since the Vallejo Sun last gave an overview of Reynolds and other candidates’ campaign holdings, she’s also gotten other notable contributions: the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce contributed $750 and Lerner contributed about $150.

Reynolds is still being out-fundraised by her opponent Rizal Aliga, however, who has reported receiving about $20,600 in contributions and loans.

Aliga has also got more notable contributions, including from the California Real Estate Political Action Committee, which gave $750, and Vacaville businessman C.C. Yin, who gave $500. Two more politicians also gave to Aliga’s campaign: former state Sen. Bill Dodd gave $500 from a lieutenant governor campaign committee he has set up for 2030 and former Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell gave $200.

Lerner is still out-fundraising her opponents. She recently received a $750 contribution from the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce, and a contribution of an item for a fundraising auction worth $800 from former Vallejo Councilmember Katy Meissner. Lerner also reported loaning her own campaign $2,000.

Lerner, who taught at Hogan High and Middle schools for 25 years before she recently retired, said she appreciates VEA’s support and thinks her “valuable experience in Vallejo schools” contributed to the union’s decision to support her.

“I’m honored to have gotten the endorsement of the VEA,” Lerner told the Vallejo Sun.  “It’s a big responsibility and I’m committed to work collaboratively toward the goal of excellent schools for all Vallejo students.”

Clarence Martin, who has reported raising $2,500, recently got a $500 contribution from the Solano Association of Realtors.

Reba “Jill” Brown has not reported raising any campaign contributions. She is endorsed by the Vallejo chapter of the California School Employees Association, which represents classified staff like food service, maintenance, office staff.. CSEA has also endorsed Reynolds in the Trustee Area 1 race.

VEA has been relatively quiet in recent years since organizing a rally about low pay and negotiating a 5.5% pay increase in 2024. In contrast, CSEA’s leadership consistently spoke out last year against layoffs and school closures and filed several labor complaints and a lawsuit against the district. 

VEA-supported candidates have tended to win over the last decade. VEA contributed to five campaigns over that time: John Fox; Ralph “Tony” Gross, and AC “Tony” Ubalde in 2018; and Christy Gardner and Latyna Young in 2020, each of whom won their race.

The union’s $10,000 in contributions is also the most it’s spent on a Vallejo school board election over at least the last decade. In 2018, it spent about $8,450 and in 2020, it spent about $2,800. In 2016, it did not report supporting any candidates, nor did it in 2022 and 2024, when there were no competitive school board races in Vallejo.

The present school board elections are occurring while VEA and the district are negotiating. On Wednesday, Vallejo’s Board of Education approved a three-year contract between the union and the district that deals largely with employee evaluation procedures, work hours, and class size. But at least one important factor remains unresolved.

“We are still at the bargaining table concerning salary,” Steele said.