Know Your WUSD Candidates

Oct 11

Know Who You're Seating: Windsor Unified School Board 2026

On November 3, Windsor voters will fill three seats on the Windsor Unified School District (WUSD) Board of Trustees. Four people are running.

Every housing project the Town approves brings new students and new demands on the roads, water and emergency services our kids rely on. WUSD and the Town must plan for that growth together, and that only works if the people at the table are independent. Before you vote, know who you’re seating.

Growth our infrastructure can handle

The Save Windsor Alliance supports responsible growth: housing planned around the infrastructure it depends on, not squeezed in ahead of it. We want decision-makers at the Town and WUSD to openly weigh:

Traffic and parking, especially at school drop-off and pick-up
Fire evacuation routes and emergency response staffing
Water, sewer and power capacity, including PG&E shutoffs
School capacity, developer fees, and safe routes to campus
Parks and open space

None of this is anti-housing. It’s about getting the order right: infrastructure first, then growth. That’s how we build affordable homes people can buy, including low-income housing, while supporting the town.

No developer ties in local politics

Our position is simple: no developer money and no developer ties in our school and town politics. We want trustees who never need to recuse themselves, so all five can make informed, unbiased decisions. (See Rich Carnation below for why this matters now.)

Taxpayers fund our schools, so ask questions

Measure J would extend the current bond rate of $44 per $100,000 of assessed value to raise about $92 million for repairs and upgrades (WUSD). In 2024, voters narrowly rejected Measure V, a $122.5 million bond, which got about 50% yes when it needed 55% (county results).

After residents raised concerns, the board resolved on August 17 that no Measure J money will be spent on the Windsor Creek property (WUSD). Public pressure works. Whatever you decide on Measure J, hold trustees accountable for every dollar.

Meet the candidates

Four candidates are running for three seats. Here is what public record shows, drawn from official ballot statements (county voter guide) and other public sources.

Michael Brown — challenger

Michael is a first-time candidate who lists his occupation as a local retail salesperson. He is Mayor Rosa Reynoza’s son.

Michael is new to politics, and that is the point. He has no ties to developers, no long list of boards, and no relationships he would need to step away from. He brings fresh eyes and a willingness to step up and serve. SWA spoke with Michael and asked for a statement; see below.

“Hello, I’m Michael Brown, and I’m running for the Windsor School Board.

I’m 21 years old and a product of public schools. I’m deeply grateful for the teachers who guided me through my education, and I want to bring the focus back to where it belongs: our teachers and students.

My decision to run grew out of the people I’ve connected with while managing a store here in Windsor. Their stories and concerns showed me how much our schools matter to this community, and I want to help and inspire others to get involved and make a difference too.

I won’t pretend to have all the answers. We’re all still learning, and I’m young and eager to learn more. What I can promise is dedication: I will work hard, listen, and do my best for our students, teachers, and community.

I’ve attended school board meetings and see clear opportunities for improvement. I want to increase transparency, make meetings more organized and accessible, and strengthen the board’s work with the public. I also believe a young adult’s perspective is valuable on the board, and I’m ready to serve.

If you have questions or would like to talk, in person or by phone, please reach out at 707-836-6914. Thank you.”

Trish Donoho — challenger

Trish is a first-time candidate with deep roots in Windsor schools. She is a mother of four, with a current Windsor High student and several graduates, and her oldest daughter now teaches in the district. She has served on the Windsor High School Site Council and has spent years volunteering in our schools.

Professionally, Trish leads business analytics for a winery, guiding strategic decisions through financial analysis and long-term planning. Those are exactly the skills a board needs to oversee bond dollars and plan for growth. Her platform centers on responsible use of resources, strong support for teachers and staff, and transparent communication with the community.

Rich Carnation — incumbent

Rich has served on the board since 2018 and is seeking a third term. He founded Waterworks Industries, a Windsor aquatic design and construction company, and is Windsor High’s founding head wrestling coach. He was an early board member of the Windsor Boys and Girls Club and served on Windsor’s first General Plan Advisory Committee.

Rich has given a great deal to Windsor athletics. He also serves as an uncompensated board member of Gallaher Community Housing, the nonprofit arm of Gallaher Homes (Press Democrat).

The Windsor Creek connection. On June 22, 2026, WUSD signed a binding agreement to sell the 11.5-acre former Windsor Creek Elementary site on Conde Lane to Gallaher Community Housing, contingent on Town rezoning, for an estimated $7.5 million (WUSD). The Town had offered about $3 million for a park and civic space; the district says state surplus-land law required it to prioritize housing (Press Democrat). Gallaher first proposed up to 384 units and in September floated a 245-home design, not yet formally submitted. It is also building the 106-unit Cora Creek complex across the street, and Windsor Creek would be its fifth project in town (Press Democrat).

Rich abstained when the board first approved negotiations with Gallaher in June 2024, and recused himself and left the room when they were reapproved in August 2024. In April 2026, the Fair Political Practices Commission advised that his nonprofit role does not create a legal financial conflict but must be disclosed; it gave no opinion on the 2024 decisions (FPPC Advice Letter A-25-169). The district says he continues to recuse himself from Windsor Creek decisions.

Nothing suggests he broke the law, and we take him at his word. But recusal is a patch, not a solution. A trustee on a developer’s board still shapes the board’s culture, its relationships, and every related decision that isn’t labeled “Windsor Creek.”

Stephanie Ahmad — incumbent

Stephanie has served since 2018, including as board president. She grew up in Windsor, was co-valedictorian at Windsor High, and is an employee benefits attorney. She has led the Stephanie has served since 2018, including as board president. She grew up in Windsor, was co-valedictorian at Windsor High, and is an employee benefits attorney. She has led the Windsor Educational Foundation and served on the Measure F Bond Oversight Committee. Her husband teaches at Windsor High.

In her ballot statement, Stephanie names the Windsor Creek teacher and staff housing project as one of her proudest accomplishments and says her top priority this term is academic achievement.

What the record shows:

“Teacher and staff housing.” District employees get priority, not exclusive access. Every unit is capped at 80% of area median income ($92,300 for one person in 2026), so some staff won’t qualify.
“Not paid for by taxpayers.” The agreement allows government construction financing, and the district is paid mostly after construction, behind Gallaher’s lender. At 245 homes, the price drops to a $5.66 million floor.
“Among the healthiest in our area.” In September, staff reported unrestricted reserves of about 10% of spending: above the required minimum, but below the roughly 17% state average they cited (meeting summary).

Source for section references: Purchase Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions, 8955 Conde Lane, between WUSD and Gallaher Community Housing, Inc., dated June 22, 2026, with Reconveyance Agreement. [PSA Agreement.]

The Save Windsor Alliance endorses Michael Brown and Trish Donoho

The Save Windsor Alliance is proud to endorse Michael Brown and Trish Donoho for the Windsor Unified School District Board of Trustees.

Both are independent of the developers shaping Windsor's future. Neither will need to recuse themselves from decisions about the growth that affects our schools.
Trish brings years of hands-on involvement in our schools and the financial skills to scrutinize bond spending.
Michael brings fresh energy and a willingness to serve without strings attached.

Together, they offer what this board needs most right now: independent judgment, accountability to taxpayers, and a commitment to working with the Town on growth that our schools and infrastructure can actually support.

Know who you're seating

Don't take our word for it. Here is how to look:

Read the candidate statements in your county voter guide, links below.
Check campaign contributions. Candidates file Form 460 reports with the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters.
Check economic interests. Incumbent trustees file Form 700 statements listing their business interests and income sources. Request them from the district.
Watch the board. Minutes and recordings show how each trustee voted, and when.

Vote November 3. Know who you're seating.

Sources

This post is not paid for by or in support of any candidate. It is meant to create transparency and help residents understand candidates and who is funding them.

Jessie Poshepny Vallery