Webster, Lynch win seats on Petaluma school board

Two challengers to the Petaluma Joint Union High School District board clinched decisive victories over the third candidate in the race, an incumbent.|

Two challengers to the Petaluma Joint Union High School District board clinched decisive victories over the third candidate in the race, an incumbent.

With all 61 precincts reporting results Wednesday, Ellen Webster and Frank Lynch had won seats on Petaluma’s largest school board.

Webster, a teacher at Tomales High School, had 36.3 percent of the vote, while Lynch, a former Petaluma High School principal and superintendent in other districts, had 35.8 percent. Mary Johnson, a retired corporate executive who was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board in March, had 27.9 percent.

The district operates the 7,500-student Petaluma City Schools. Key issues in the race included the use of technology in the classroom and spending proceeds of a $21 million 2014 bond measure. The district’s $1.4 million initiative to provide each student with an iPad using bond proceeds last year met resistance from some parents, who were concerned about children’s access to the internet and questioned the safety of using Wi-Fi.

Lynch, 69, thanked his supporters and said he was looking forward to tackling the challenges facing the board.

“I’m excited,” he said Wednesday. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m looking forward to working with the board and with (superintendent) Gary Callahan. I’m hoping I can add my perspective and experience to the mix.”

Webster was not available to comment on Wednesday.

Contact Matt Brown at matt.brown@arguscourier.com.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.