DIXON, CA (MPG) - Dixon residents get to choose three out of five people for the Dixon Unified School District Board of Trustees in this year’s elections. To help make informed choices, the Dixon Chamber of Commerce will host a Candidates Night Forum on Monday, October 17, at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 600 East A Street. It is hosted by the Governmental Affairs Committee.

Each of the five candidates who are running for the three open seats will be asked questions and members of the community are welcome to join in person or via Zoom.

The incumbents are Jewel Fink and Dr. Lloyd McCabe, and candidates are Julian Cuevas, Ian Arnold, and John Gabby.

Fink moved to Dixon about five years ago to be closer to her sons and their families who own Lemuria Nursery. She has grandchildren who attend Dixon schools. She has more than 40 years’ experience as a teacher and administrator with the Vallejo City Unified School District giving her tools to advocate on behalf of educators, students and families, according to her campaign statement.

“When all children have access to high quality teachers, a standards-aligned, rigorous curriculum and supportive programming, all children benefit and are more likely to reach their full potential,” she wrote.

McCabe has 45 years of Educational experience that includes High School Ag Teacher and Department Chair, Teacher of the Year at two different schools and State CATA Teacher of Excellence Award. He’s been a Chair or member of numerous local non-profit organizations including President of the Dixon May Fair. He was an Administrator and Consultant for the California Department of Education.

Cueva, 34, is the son of immigrant parents who worked in the fields before they pursued community service employment in public education and public safety. Cueva is a government, non-profit, and community relations professional with experience in federal, state and local government advocacy.

For several years he was the Director of Education Programs at the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley where his work primarily focused on developing and implementing education interventions, including family engagement, in partnership with local school districts. In 2017, Julian was appointed as the Legislative Policy Representative at the California Department of Education by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Ian Arnold, is an Independent Insurance Agent, a former Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Field Supervisor and former library commissioner who ran for Dixon City Council in 2012. He holds a BA in Administrative Management from University of Texas, San Antonio. He is running because he believes he has a better plan for a more effective budget.

“I would like to see the District go to zero-based budgeting. Then, as a Board we can set real priorities,” he said. He has other concerns, though. “I put three kids through Dixon schools and there were issues that were going on. I’m concerned with bullying and the lack of teeth in the follow-up. For anything short of violence, the school district should be looking at restorative justices vs. suspensions.”

John Gabby, who listed himself simply as a ‘parent’ on his candidate statement, is a former Board Trustee who resigned in March of 2020 before the end of his second term. That is when McCabe was appointed. McCabe ran at the end of his term and was elected. Attempts to reach Gabby were unsuccessful.

To join the Zoom meeting, go to jttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/4331239750. The meeting ID is 433 123 9750.