Election results: Beto Alvarez, Michael Duran jump out to early leads for DSUSD board

Jonathan Horwitz, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·2 min read

In an unusual election for the Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education, four races will decide candidates in three areas.

In Trustee Area 5, which includes most of Indio north of Indio Boulevard and Interstate 10, two candidates are running to replace Ana Conover. Returns Thursday morning showed Michael Duran leading Scott Baily with 2,602 votes (58.1%) to 1,878 votes (41.2%).

Baily, not to be confused with recently retired Desert Sands superintendent Scott Bailey, has been a teacher for 25 years.

Duran has been a school counselor for about 25 years and was a school teacher for a few years before that. He’s also a water polo and swim coach at Shadow Hills High. He first served on the board from 2006-2018.

In Trustee Area 1, which represents the western half of Palm Desert, Kailee Watson ran unopposed to replace Wendy Jonathan for a two-year term that ends in 2024.

More: Elections 2022: Three seats for grabs on Desert Sands Unified School Board

There are two elections for Trustee Area 2: one for a short term that could potentially last only several days, and one for a full-length term through 2026.

Early returns showed Humberto "Beto" Alvarez with substantial leads in both races.

Trustee Area 2 generally includes portions of Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, La Quinta, Indio and Palm Desert.

Four candidates are vying for both terms and two more just for the full term. They are:

  • Maryalice Alberg Owings — recently retired principal in Desert Sands Unified

  • Humberto "Beto" Alvarez — elementary school principal in Coachella Valley Unified

  • Jacob Alvarez — assistant to the city manager of Coachella; briefly served as trustee for this area

  • Betty Callaway (full term only) — realtor

  • Katherine Silveira — elementary school art specialist

  • Kurt Schoppe (full term only) — general manager, SA Organics Recycling

For the full term:

  • Humberto "Beto" Alvarez: 2,554 votes (31.7%)

  • Betty Callaway: 1,427 votes (17.7%)

  • Maryalice Alberg Owings: 1,402 votes (17.4%)

  • Kurt Schoppe: 993 votes (12.3%)

  • Jacob Alvarez: 944 votes (11.7%)

  • Katherine Silveira: 727 votes (9.0%)

For the short term:

  • Humberto "Beto" Alvarez: 2,817 votes (38.2%)

  • Maryalice Alberg Owings: 1,912 votes (26.0%)

  • Jacob Alvarez: 1,321 votes (18.0%)

  • Katherine Silveira: 1,302 votes (17.7%)

This is a developing story and will be updated as results from the Nov. 8 election become available.

Jonathan Horwitz covers education for The Desert Sun. Reach him at jonathan.horwitz@desertsun.com or @Writes_Jonathan.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Election results: 3 seats, special election for DSUSD