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San Mateo County, CA November 3, 2009 Election
Board Member; Hillsborough City School District Voter Information

4 Year Term.

Results as of Dec 29 12:09pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (12/12)
27.8% Voter Turnout (77,340/277,759)
Candidates (Vote for 3)
Click on highlighted name for additional information supplied by candidate. Contact non-highlighted candidates and encourage them to provide information for voters.

Mary Ellen Benninger Click here for more information about this candidate 1,394 votes 30.3%

  • Occupation: Incumbent
  • School Board President 2007-08
  • Trustee on Citizens' Oversight Committee 2005-09
  • President Hillsborough Schools Foundation 2002-03
  • ERIC Award recipient 2003
  • BA Economics, Stanford University 1979
  • 2 children attended South and Crocker K-8
Priorities:
  • Ensure the successful transition of the new superintendent.
  • Ensure the district remains fiscally prudent.
  • Promote the continuation of collaboration of parents, community, teachers, administrators and School Board members.
Steven M. Koury Click here for more information about this candidate 1,326 votes 28.8%
  • Occupation: Parent, Finance Professional
  • Financial expertise gained over an esteemed 24-year career in banking and finance, in New York and San Francisco.
  • Career with world-class organizations, such as roughly half with JPMorgan, finding financial solutions for public and private entities.
  • Actively serve our community as Citizens Oversight Committee member, appointed by our School Board, to help oversee $66.8 million Measure B bond funds
  • Diligently serve our schools as Executive Board Member and Treasurer of West School Parent Group for two years (2007-09).
  • Happily serve our kids as AYSO soccer head coach for several years. Also help regularly at school events, and chaperone on field trips.
  • Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, International Finance, San Francisco State University. Advanced Certificate in Finance, University of Copenhagen
Priorities:
  • Our State's financial crisis threatens K-12 education funding. I bring the finance skills needed to ensure we can pay for the programs we want.
  • With the building projects behind us, it's time for our Board to refocus on curriculum & educational programs to ensure we're offering the best.
  • As a public servant of our wonderful community, I will work hard, be well prepared, and always have an open door policy to meet with residents.
Lynne Esselstein Click here for more information about this candidate 1,133 votes 24.6%
  • Occupation: Parent/Attorney
  • Active school volunteer -- Co-founded North School Science Fair in 2006
  • Co-Chair Scholar's Circle, Hillsborough Schools Foundation
  • 10 years of service on the Board of Directors, Legal Aid Society San Mateo County -- current President of the Board
  • Legal career emphasis on advising cities and public agencies and their elected officials
  • UC Berkeley, AB Humanities; UC Davis, JD. Attended Los Lomitas elementary schools and Woodside High School.
Priorities:
  • Navigate the impact of the State's fiscal crisis with eye to preserving curriculum and the individualized academic experience each child deserves
  • Support our new Superintendent and Prinicipals and welcome them to the Hillsborough community
  • Continue the Hillsborough School traditions of academic excellence, innovation and community support
Steven Gans Click here for more information about this candidate 641 votes 13.9%
  • Occupation: Parent/Software Architect
  • Software executive, with experience as Chief Architect for two public companies, including complete staffing and budget responsibilities
  • Inventor and holder of three patents, with three more currently in process
  • Served as classroom dad for daughter's class; Member of West School Art-in-Action and HTV committees; Weekly Math Enrichment classroom volunteer
  • Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trained for Hillsborough/Burlingame, Red Cross CPR and Lifesaving; AYSO Referee (U8 through U19)
  • M.I.T. SF Bay Area undergraduate admissions interviewer; Former Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster
  • M.I.T.: SB, Mathematics; SB, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; SM, Computer Science
Priorities:
  • Support our school's high standards/scores while simultaneously continuing to focus on the Essential Outcomes of developing well-rounded individuals
  • Find creative ways to augment our existing programs while managing within our financial and budget constraints and limitations.
  • Create rich and rewarding after-school programs that better meet the needs of the community
Pearl G. Wu, M.D. Click here for more information about this candidate 110 votes 2.4%
  • Occupation: Parent/Physician
  • Tufts University School of Medicine, MD; Internship & Residency: Cedars-Sinai/UCLA; Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
  • Two-Term Medical Staff President; Physician Wellness Champion, Team Lead Physician
  • Physician CMS Lead to ensure accurate medical documentation and maximize revenue capture
  • West School Wellness Committee with emphasis on "Healthy Choices, Healthy Me!" as highlighted in the West School Health Fair 2008
  • Extensive Parent Volunteerism/Attending Class Physician; Assistant Coach for Hillsborough AYSO Soccer
  • 2009 America's Top Physicians Recognition by Consumers' Research Council of America
Priorities:
  • To empower our kids to rise and thrive and to grow into positive and productive adults
  • To educate the "whole child" to become critical, constructive and creative thinkers and leaders of tomorrow!
  • To work collaboratively with parents and educators to fortify our kids with a well-rounded education to compete locally, nationally and globally.

Basic candidate data supplied by the applicable elections official. Order of candidates is random and changes daily.
  Events

Candidate Forums

  • Candidates' Forum
  • Wednesday, 30 September 7 - 8:30 pm
  • Crocker Middle School, 2600 Ralston Ave., Hillsborough
News and Analysis

Academic, Student Needs 10/17/2009

Hillsborough Hopefuls Talk Financial Challenges 10/01/2009
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Created: December 29, 2009 12:09 PST
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