South Monterey High School Board: Lomeli Leads Dake by 259 Selections for Third Seat

COUNT UPDATE NOVEMBER 5 — SOURCE NOVEMBER 4 AT 2:23 A.M. The existing South Monterey County Joint Union High School District three-seat governing-board election has a revised unofficial count: Sonia Valerio-Quiroz 1,974, Leslie Girard 1,807, Miguel R. Lomeli 1,683 and Paul Dake 1,424. Lomeli’s third-place lead over Dake is now 259 candidate selections, compared with 111 in the first reported November 3 snapshot preserved below. This is the existing high-school district, not either proposed K–12 unified board contingent on Measure J. The updated numbers come from the sixth Monterey County semi-final election report, which remains unofficial. Further eligible ballots and county canvassing can change the margins.

Older first count

KING CITY, Monterey County — November 3, 2026, election-night count. Four candidates compete for three positions at South Monterey County Joint Union High School District, and the initial third-place gap is 111 selections.

What the first returns show

Sonia Valerio-Quiroz has 1,525 candidate selections, Leslie Girard 1,499, Miguel R. Lomeli 1,343 and Paul Dake 1,232.

Why this race or measure matters

This is the existing joint high-school district’s board election, distinct from the proposed unified-school boards tied to Measure J. If reorganization is approved, the future governance arrangements would change according to the ballot proposal. These early candidate standings remain unofficial and do not certify a board.

Result status and reporting cutoff

This article uses Monterey County returns reported as of approximately 8:30 p.m. Pacific on November 3, 2026, as reproduced by Salinas Valley Tribune. These are not newer November 5 figures and are unofficial. Additional mail ballots, provisional ballots, and canvass work can change the counts. Consult the county election office before relying on an outcome as final.

Sources: Salinas Valley Tribune election-night results, November 3; Monterey County Elections office. California58 statewide election coverage.

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