Wednesday, August 12, 2026

One Pasadena Unified Board Election Candidate Faces 5 o’clock Qualifying Deadline Today; Balance of Field Set

Because District 7 incumbent Yarma Velázquez did not pull papers to run again, state law reopened that seat for five more days after the filing deadline for the rest — and that window shuts at 5 p.m. Wednesday

Candidate filing for the upcoming Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education election in November closed Aug. 7 in every race but one. In District 7, where incumbent Yarma Velázquez decided not to run for reelection, California election law reopened the seat for five additional days — and that extension expires Wednesday.

Applicant Cynthia Torres has filed but has not yet qualified. She has until 5 p.m. today to turn in the necessary signatures to qualify to run against newcomer Dennis McNamara, the only other candidate running for District 7.

Torres pulled nomination papers late last week.

At the other end of the filing calendar, one Pasadena Unified seat is set to be decided without a vote.

District 5 incumbent Patrice Marshall McKenzie will be appointed to another term in lieu of an election in November. No opponent filed to run against McKenzie by Friday’s deadline. The district recently adopted a resolution that allows uncontested races to be canceled as a cost-saving measure. The district will save between $60,000 and $75,000.

The rest of the field for November has been set, with four candidates qualified in districts 1 and 3.

In District 1, incumbent Kimberly Kenne and challenger Felita R. Kealing have both qualified for the ballot. Kealing was issued nomination papers July 13, filed them July 29 and qualified Aug. 3. Kenne was issued papers July 14, filed July 22 and qualified July 24.

A third potential District 1 candidate, Dianne Lewis, filed but did not qualify.

District 3 will also feature a two-candidate contest, between Veronica Elias and incumbent Michelle Richardson Bailey. Elias was issued nomination papers July 13 and filed and qualified July 30. Richardson Bailey was issued papers July 16 and filed and qualified Aug. 3.

The races are part of the Nov. 3 general election, when Pasadena voters will choose representatives for four of the seven seats on the Pasadena Unified Board of Education.

Board members are elected by plurality, meaning the candidate receiving the most votes wins the seat. A candidate does not need to receive more than 50% of the vote to win.