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Incumbent Sarah Butler faces two challengers in her bid for a third term representing Area 2 on the Contra Costa County Board of Education, a seat that includes portions of northern Alamo.
Butler is seeking to defend her seat against former Orinda school board trustee Pamela West and school psychologist Sibyl Minighini.
In addition to the northern outskirts of Alamo, Area 2 includes Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda and Canyon. The rest of the region is situated in Area 4 and represented by Mike Maxwell, who was elected in 2022 and is set to remain in the seat for another four years after no other candidates emerged in this year’s race.
“As a dedicated and experienced board member on the Contra Costa County Board of Education, I understand the critical role the board plays in serving and supporting all students throughout our county,” Butler said on her campaign website.
Butler was first elected to the county board in 2018. Her resume also includes a term on the Orinda Union School District board from 2012 to 2016, five years on the Acalanes Union High School District’s budget advisory and parcel tax oversight committees and a stint as chair of the Miramonte High School site council.
West is touting her eight-year tenure on the Orinda school board as part of her campaign, specifically pointing to her role on a committee that oversaw the district’s sale of surplus property to the Pulte Group. The $19.5 million generated by the sale was used for a new administrative building and two new playing fields.
On her campaign website, West said she’s running for the county Board of Education because “I care deeply about educating our children.”
“Every child deserves the best possible learning experience — not only because they are the future of our community, but because they are among its most vulnerable members and need our strong advocacy,” West said.
Minighini is looking to leverage her professional experience as a longtime psychologist with the San Francisco Unified School District as well as her experience as a Contra Costa County resident to win over voters.
“I’ve seen how budget crises, staff shortages and unclear priorities hurt classrooms,” Minighini said on her campaign website. “On the county board, I will focus on practical solutions that help students learn, teachers teach and districts operate on solid financial ground.”
The candidates’ platforms center on many of the same priorities, including fiscal responsibility, safety and improving mental health care and other resources for students.
Both West and Butler have emphasized the importance of advocacy at the state and federal levels to help address the county’s educational challenges. Minighini, meanwhile, has made increasing family and community engagement a focal point.
Butler’s campaign is emphasizing her ongoing work on the board, including existing transparency and community engagement efforts, advocacy for increased mental health and counseling resources and efforts to address access and inclusion gaps.
“I will continue to work to give every student, regardless of their challenges, the opportunity to earn a quality education and career pathways,” Butler said.
West said that “one of my most rewarding roles” during her tenure on the Orinda school board was collaborating with other school districts to improve support systems for students and families.
“Those experiences reinforced the power of continuous learning and partnership to improve our schools,” West said. “My goal on the county Board of Education will be to help ensure that every student receives an excellent education and a chance to reach their highest potential. I will bring a collaborative, results-focused approach to building strong schools and communities where every child can succeed.”
While all three candidates listed counseling and mental health as priorities, Minighini emphasized those services and improved special education support as areas in which she has specific insights.
“The county Board of Education plays a critical role: approving district budgets, overseeing financial health, supporting special education and setting countywide priorities,” Minighini said. “I’m running to bring clear, student‑centered leadership to that work.”
More information on Butler’s campaign is available at sarah-butler.org. More on West’s campaign is available at pamwestforcboe.com. More on Minighini’s campaign is available at electsibyl.com.
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