Placer County Superintendent of Schools Calls for Special Election
Oct 19, 2026 02:04PM ● By Placer County Office of Education News Release
The Placer County Office of Education will continue working with the Placer County Elections Office and PUHSD to support the election process in accordance with California law. Photo designed by Magnific
ROCKLIN, CA (MPG) – Placer County Superintendent of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica has determined that a petition from community members seeking to vacate the provisional appointment of Mr. Carleton Copa to the Placer Union High School District (PUHSD) Board of Trustees is legally sufficient. As a result, the provisional appointment is vacated effective immediately, and a special election will be held to fill the Trustee Area 5 vacancy.
Copa was provisionally appointed by the PUHSD Board of Trustees on Sept. 10 to fill the vacant Trustee Area 5 seat. On Oct. 9, the Placer County Superintendent of Schools received a petition requesting that the provisional appointment be vacated.
In accordance with California Education Code Section 5091, the petition was reviewed in coordination with the Placer County Elections Office and determined to be legally sufficient, meeting the required signature threshold of 1.5 percent of registered voters in Trustee Area 5 at the November 2024 general election.
With the petition deemed legally sufficient, the County Superintendent of Schools has vacated the provisional appointment effective immediately. The Trustee Area 5 seat will remain vacant until the position is filled through a special election scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2027, at an estimated cost of $96,495-$165,420, which will be paid by PUHSD.
“The petition process is an important part of ensuring transparency and accountability in public education and gives community members a voice in how their schools are governed,” County Superintendent Garbolino-Mojica said.
The Placer County Office of Education will continue working with the Placer County Elections Office and PUHSD to support the election process in accordance with California law.
ROCKLIN, CA (MPG) – Placer County Superintendent of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica has determined that a petition from community members seeking to vacate the provisional appointment of Mr. Carleton Copa to the Placer Union High School District (PUHSD) Board of Trustees is legally sufficient. As a result, the provisional appointment is vacated effective immediately, and a special election will be held to fill the Trustee Area 5 vacancy.
Copa was provisionally appointed by the PUHSD Board of Trustees on Sept. 10 to fill the vacant Trustee Area 5 seat. On Oct. 9, the Placer County Superintendent of Schools received a petition requesting that the provisional appointment be vacated.
In accordance with California Education Code Section 5091, the petition was reviewed in coordination with the Placer County Elections Office and determined to be legally sufficient, meeting the required signature threshold of 1.5 percent of registered voters in Trustee Area 5 at the November 2024 general election.
With the petition deemed legally sufficient, the County Superintendent of Schools has vacated the provisional appointment effective immediately. The Trustee Area 5 seat will remain vacant until the position is filled through a special election scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2027, at an estimated cost of $96,495-$165,420, which will be paid by PUHSD.
“The petition process is an important part of ensuring transparency and accountability in public education and gives community members a voice in how their schools are governed,” County Superintendent Garbolino-Mojica said.
The Placer County Office of Education will continue working with the Placer County Elections Office and PUHSD to support the election process in accordance with California law.
