More than 200 candidates are running for 163 open school board seats in Maricopa County. 

Board members are education leaders who vote on important decisions in local school districts.

And school board members have made some of the most consequential decisions during the pandemic: Board members decide when districts will reopen. Boards likely will decide whether schools must close, if COVID-19 cases increase. They decide on the software teachers and students will use while they are virtually learning. They vote on whether to buy protective equipment and upgrade ventilation systems, to potentially prevent the spread of the virus.

SEE THE WINNERS: Arizona election results

Here are the results so far, with only early ballots counted: 

Arlington Elementary School District – Three will be elected

• Phillip L. Camp 
• Eric Sawyer – Leading 
• Thomas W. Vanosdell – Leading 
• Dianna L. Workman – Leading 

Balsz Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Vic Grace
• Gail Q. Knight – Leading 
• Redeem Robinson – Leading 
• Muktar Sheikh – Leading 

Buckeye Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Brett R. Benninghoff 
• Richard A. Hopkins – Leading 
• Amy B. Lovitt – Leading 
• Michael W. Melton – Leading 

Buckeye Union High School District – Early results not posted 

• Kristi M. Bencomo
• Megan Y. Blackburn
• Jeffrey C. Brady
• Paul D. Jensen
• Morris Seeskin
• Brian Turner

Cave Creek Unified School District – Three will be elected 

• Janet Busbee – Leading 
• Jeff Fortney – Leading 
• Teri L. Thatcher
• Brianna Lynn Walker – Leading 
• Trinity Dawn Wilson 

Chandler Unified School District – Three will be elected 

• Barb Mozdzen – Leading 
• Jason Olive – Leading 
• Joel Wirth – Leading 

Creighton Elementary School 

Two-year seat: 

• Sophia Ramirez – Sole candidate 

Four-year seats – Three will be elected: 

• Patrick “Mac” Mcdonald 
• Heather L. Ayres – Leading 
• Lindsey Mccaleb – Leading 
• Amy Mcsheffrey – Leading 
• Alexandra Peck
• Kathryn Ring
• Donna L. Young

Deer Valley Unified School District – Three will be elected 

• Kim Fisher – Leading 
• Melody Holehan-Kopas
• Ann Elizabeth Ordway – Leading 
• Jennie Paperman – Leading 
• Ogechukwu I. Mbah

Dysart Unified School District – Two will be elected 

• Chrystal L. Chaffin – Leading 
• Jo Grant – Leading 
• Jay Dean Leonard
• Rhiannon Miett
• Christine A.K. Pritchard – Leading 
• Charles R. Wilson

Gila Bend Unified School District

Two-year seat:

• Saida L. Murrieta
• Elizabeth “Liz” Smith – Leading 

Four-year seats – Two will be elected: 

• Francisca A. Nevarez – Leading 
• Jesus A. Rubalcava
• Colby C. Turner – Leading 

Glendale Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Amber D. Gould
• Mike Martinez – Leading 
• Monica Gallardo Pimentel – Leading 
• Mary Ann Wilson – Leading 

Higley Unified School District – Three will be elected 

• Michelle Anderson – Leading 
• Kristina Reese – Leading 
• Tiffany Shultz – Leading 
• Greg Wojtovich

Isaac Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Roman Gilbert Daniels
• Maria Guzman – Leading 
• Maria A. Hernandez – Leading 
• Raul “Rudy” Santa Cruz – Leading 

Kyrene Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Ivan Alfaro
• Michelle Fahy – Leading 
• Wanda C. Kolomyjec – Leading 
• Trine Nelson – Leading 
• Margaret Wright

Laveen Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Michele S. Anderson – Leading 
• Simir Rand
• Susan J. Sanborn – Leading 
• Ryan T. Senters
• Torrence Watkins – Leading 

Litchfield Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Danielle E. Clymer – Leading 
• A. Jeremy Hoenack – Leading 
• Melissa A. Zuidema – Leading 

Madison Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Karen A. Gresham – Leading 
• Matt Gress 
• Scott Holcomb – Leading 
• Sarah W. Speer – Leading 

Mesa Unified School District – Three will be elected 

• Rich Crandall
• Lara Salmon Ellingson – Leading 
• Vikki R. Johnson
• Joe O’Reilly
• Kiana Maria Sears – Leading 
• Cara Schnepf Steiner – Leading 

Paradise Valley Unified School District – Three will be elected 

• Stephanie Brown – Leading 
• Nancy Case – Leading 
• Anne Greenberg – Leading 

Peoria Unified School District – Three will be elected 

• Linda J. Busam – Leading 
• Kacie S. Franklin
• Rebecca Jane Hill – Leading 
• Kirk Hobbs
• David M. Sandoval – Leading 
• Davita Solter
• Bill Sorensen
• Devon Nicole Updegraff-Day
• C.J. Williams

Phoenix Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Jessica Bueno – Leading 
• Regional “Reggie” Carrillo – Leading 
• Quanta Marie Crews
• Elisia Elle Jasso
• Nicholas Nik Martin
• Alicia Vink – Leading 

Phoenix Union High School District – Two will be elected 

• Girmar Anwar
• Debbie Cross
• Aaron Marquez – Leading 
• Lela Alston – Leading 
• Nedra A. Sheppard

Queen Creek Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Sean Andrew Bohart
• Patty Campbell – Leading 
• Jennifer Revolt – Leading 
• Matthew A. Riffey – Leading 

Roosevelt Elementary School District

• Lawrence A. Robinson – Leading 

Scottsdale Unified School District

• Kathleen “Kate” Angelos
• Julie Cieniawski – Leading 
• Lucy Digrazia
• Libby Hart-Wells – Leading 
• Zach R. Lindsay
• Rose M. Smith – Leading 

Tempe Elementary School District

• Allison Ewers – Leading 
• Monica Trejo – Leading 

Tempe Union High School District – Three will be elected 

• Lori Bastian
• Don Fletcher
• Berdetta B. Hodge – Leading 
• Sarah Lindsay James – Leading 
• Sandy K. Lowe
• Armando A. Montero – Leading 
• Michael Ryan Myrick
• Paige Reesor

Washington Elementary School District – Three will be elected 

• Jenni J. Abbott-Bayardi – Leading 
• Aaron Jahneke
• Tee Lambert
• Lindsey Peterson – Leading 
• Nikkie Lynn Whaley – Leading 

Reach the reporter at Lily.Altavena@ArizonaRepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @LilyAlta.

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