Turlock Unified trustee resigns midterm, no interest shown in seat up for election

The Turlock Unified School District board will have two upcoming vacancies to discuss at its meeting Tuesday night. Trustee Deborah Martin has announced she will resign and no candidates filed for a seat that was to be elected in November.

Reached by phone Friday, Martin said she and her husband, Chris Borovansky, will be moving to property they own near Medford, Ore., next week in time for their children to start school. Borovansky, 60, retired in August after five years as the Stanislaus County Fair chief executive officer.

“We had a five-year plan to stay here when I ran for the board, but life happens,” Martin said with a sigh. She said she leaves with Turlock schools much stronger financially than when she was elected in November 2013.

“I’m really excited with all the opportunities,” she said. “What a fun time to be on the board right now. I’m really very disappointed I’m leaving.”

Martin said her resignation will take effect Sept. 2, leaving two years remaining on her term representing Area 2, a strip of west Turlock roughly bounded by Fulkerth Road on the north and West Linwood Avenue on the south.

Another vacancy will be created by the lack of candidates for Area 7, notes the board agenda. No one filed to run for the four-year seat that represents the southern portion of the district bounded on the north by West Harding Road.

Incumbents Barney Gordon and Frank Lima, and teacher Ken Malech, will run unopposed for the other three seats being elected.

The board could decide to hold a special election to fill the vacant seats, but is expected to choose the more economical route and fill the board by appointment. Agenda items lay out similar timelines for both appointments.

Applicants who live in Areas 2 and 7 will have until 5 p.m. Sept. 18 to file a Candidate’s Information Form and supporting documents, such as a résumé and letters of recommendation, with Superintendent Dana Trevethan. The choices will be voted on and sworn in at a special board meeting tentatively scheduled for Oct. 13.

Candidate Information Forms are available in the Office of the Superintendent, Room 210, 1574 E. Canal Drive, Turlock, 209-667-0633.

This story was originally published August 30, 2015 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Turlock Unified trustee resigns midterm, no interest shown in seat up for election."