Update: Cameron Wins Special Twin Rivers Election

Sonja Cameron

Publisher’s note: Sonja Cameron has been declared the winner with 52 percent of the vote, according to the Sacramento County Registration and Elections office official count.

BY ROBYN EIFERTSEN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

Sonja Cameron is leading the race to retain her seat representing Natomas and Robla on the Twin Rivers Unified school board.

Results of a special election held Tuesday show Cameron with 54 percent of the vote. Opponent Basim Elkarra has 44 percent of the vote, according to the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters.

Final results could come as early as Monday, said Alice Jarboe, assistant registrar of voters, but could be later. The registrar’s office is still waiting to receive and count up to 6,000 more votes, she said.

A new state law allows mail-in voters to cast ballots on Election Day. The mailed-in ballots are valid as long as they are postmarked by election day and received within three days of the election, Jarboe said.

If she wins, Cameron said she plans to improve communication between the district and parents about school options.

“I am very interested in reestablishing Twin Rivers’ good name, student achievement and moving the district forward,” Cameron said.

Elkarra said he will stay involved with district matters whatever the election outcome.

“I look forward to working with Mrs. Cameron inside the district to improve our schools and help all our children succeed,” said Elkarra.

Twin Rivers Superintendent Steven Martinez was ready to declare Cameron the winner Wednesday afternoon.

“Voters elected Sonja Cameron as their representative to serve on the Board of Trustees in Twin Rivers Unified School District,” Martinez said in statement. “As we welcome Mrs. Cameron to the board, it is our goal to create a collaborative and productive leadership team to service students and staff.”

The district’s school board appointed Cameron to fill the Area 5 seat vacated by Cortez Quinn in December 2014.

The lack of public input prompted groups such as the Democratic Party of Sacramento County to protest Cameron’s appointment and petition to have a special election.

The campaign between Cameron and Elkarra turned ugly a few weeks prior when an anonymous political flyer accused Elkarra of being tied to terrorism.