Phan Anderson, First Time Challenger, Defeats Incumbent Julie Bronstein
SAN DIEGO – The Phan Anderson for School Board campaign claimed victory today in its effort to unseat incumbent San Dieguito Union High School District Area 5 Trustee, Julie Bronstein. Bronstein was elected to the Board in a November 2021 special election and served one year before standing for re-election.
According to data reported yesterday by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, Phan Anderson has established what appears to be an insurmountable lead over Bronstein, with a total of 5,860 votes (51.44%) versus Bronstein’s 5,025 (44,11%). An additional 506 votes were cast for a third candidate, Georgia Ringler. Information posted on the Registrar’s website indicates that, of more than a million votes cast county-wide, only an estimated 15,000 votes remain to be tallied.
The Area 5 race, nominally a non-partisan contest, pitted Anderson, a Republican Party-endorsed resident of Carmel Valley, against Bronstein, also a resident of Carmel Valley, who was endorsed by the Democratic Party.
Commenting about the outcome, Anderson said, “I’m delighted that our campaign has been successful, and I’m very grateful to the many individuals in our community who helped make this happen. Ours was a grass-roots campaign with broad support, challenging an incumbent who had the powerful backing of her party and material support from organized groups aligned with the unions. I wish my opponent, Julie Bronstein, the very best in her future endeavors.”
Looking ahead, Anderson is expected to take office in December and intends to work hard to achieve the goals backed by her campaign. “First and foremost, I want to be sure that we provide our students the best possible education, grounded in rigorous standards in reading, writing, math, and science. Beyond that, I hope the Trustees will be able to conduct the District’s business in a respectful, tolerant, and civil manner, and that we can encourage our residents to do the same. I understand that people are passionate about their concerns, but I believe one of the reasons I was elected was that voters hope to see the District turn away from divisive issues and rhetoric and instead, with input from parents, pursue consensus on how to do what’s best for our students.”
Commenting on the election outcome in Area 5, outgoing Trustee and Board President Maureen “Mo” Muir (Area 1) said, “I’m delighted with Phan’s victory, and I think she’ll be a great addition to the Board. My impression has been that she’s a hard worker, and I expect her to be a strong advocate for the best interests of the kids and parents. Her collaborative spirit is just what the Board needs, and I think she’ll be a constructive influence.”
The full term of office for newly-elected Trustees of the San Dieguito Union High School District lasts for four years, and will begin at the Board’s meeting on December 13, 2022.
Media inqueries can be sent to Phan Anderson care of Prattlon Digital Media at prattlon@icloud.com.
