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PEA Endorsements for the 2026 School Board Election
PEA Endorsements for the 2026 School Board Election
This year, four Porterville Unified School District Governing Board seats are up for election: Areas 3, 4, 5, and 7. All four current incumbents have filed to run for re-election. For the first time in many election cycles, each of these incumbents will face a challenger seeking to earn their seat on the Board.
[Click here to view the school board areas.]
Beginning in early summer 2026, the PEA School Accountability Committee held two informational meetings followed by an endorsement meeting to help our members better understand the candidates and the issues facing our schools.
As part of our endorsement process, we invited all four incumbent board members to attend our endorsement meeting through their PUSD email addresses. Unfortunately, we received no response, and none of the four incumbents attended the meeting.
After careful consideration and extensive discussion with the PEA Executive Board and our members, we are proud to announce our endorsements for the 2026 PUSD Governing Board election.
PEA proudly endorses the following candidates:
Area 3 - Marina Chavez
Area 4 -
Area 5 - Jose Tapia
Area 7 - Jim Carson
We encourage our members, families, and community to learn more about these candidates and participate in this important election. The future of our schools depends on strong, engaged leadership.
Area 3
Area 3
Marina Chavez Bio:
My name is Marina Chavez, and Porterville is the community that helped shape who I am today. I grew up on the East Side of Porterville in a hardworking family that taught me that where you come from should never determine how far you can go. Today, I serve my community as the Executive Director of Valley Adult Day Services, where I have gained firsthand experience leading an organization, managing public and private funding, building partnerships, and advocating for families who need someone in their corner. I am also a parent with children attending schools within Porterville Unified, so the success of our district is deeply personal to me. Like every parent, I want my children to have great teachers, meaningful opportunities, safe and welcoming schools, and the support they need to build successful futures. I want those same things for every child in our district.
I am running for the Porterville Unified School District Board because I believe every student and every school deserves a strong advocate. While I would be elected to represent my trustee area, I understand that a School Board member has a responsibility to help our entire district succeed. I will support and advocate for every PUSD school—from our elementary campuses to our middle and high schools—and work to ensure students across our community have access to opportunities that help them thrive. I will champion empowered students, value certificated and classified staff, promote the responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and build stronger partnerships with parents and our community. I will bring an independent voice to the Board—one willing to listen, ask tough questions, work across differences, and put students first. As a parent, community leader, and advocate, I would be honored to earn your vote and serve the entire PUSD community.
Area 5
Area 5
Jose Tapia Bio:
I’m running for PUSD Area 5 School Board because I believe our community deserves a voice that is willing to listen, learn, and be present.
As an active member of the Porterville community, involved in coaching and several parent groups, I’ve experienced firsthand how frustrating it can be when concerns don’t feel heard or when the people making decisions seem disconnected from what students, families, educators, coaches, and community members are experiencing every day.
I believe our School Board needs members who are connected to the community and willing to truly listen—not only when it’s convenient, but especially when classified and certificated employees raise concerns or bring different perspectives to the table.
I’m not running because I believe I have all the answers. I’m running because I’m ready to learn, ask questions, do the work, and, most importantly, listen to the people who are on the ground every day supporting our students.
Our students, families, educators, coaches, and community members deserve to know their voices matter.
If elected, I am ready to listen, ready to learn, and most importantly, ready to be a strong voice for the students, families, educators, and community of Area 5.
Area 7
Area 7
Jim Carson Bio:
I have spent more than three decades working in education, including seven years teaching in Porterville Unified and 26 years at the college level. I also previously served on the Porterville Unified School District Board of Trustees, giving me the opportunity to understand our schools from both the classroom and governance perspectives.
If elected, I will bring experience, common sense, and an independent voice to the Board. I believe good decisions require listening to teachers, staff, parents, administrators, and our community—but my first responsibility will always be to the students of Porterville Unified. I will approach every issue fairly, consider the facts, and make the decision I believe is best for our students and our schools.
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