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The race for the San Mateo County Office of Education’s superintendent of schools is still a squeaker, with Gary Waddell ahead of Nancy Magee with the Thursday, June 7, vote totals released, but his lead was less than a percentage point.
When the results were updated on Thursday afternoon with the count of more last-minute ballots, Waddell’s margin had increased to 501 votes.
More vote results were due to be released at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, and Friday, June 15. If needed, another count will be released on Wednesday, June 20.
The Thursday results showed Waddell with 32,576 votes (50.39 percent) and Magee with 32,075 votes (49.61 percent).
Both Waddell and Magee work in the San Mateo County Office of Education, Waddell as deputy superintendent and Magee as associate superintendent. Both started campaigning in 2017 to take the job now held by their boss, Anne Campbell, who didn’t run for a third four-year term.
The county superintendent manages a $90 million budget and a staff of 450 while overseeing the 23 school districts in the county. The office of education says Campbell’s base salary is currently $235,428.
Both candidates live on the Coastside — Waddell in Pacifica and Magee in Half Moon Bay — and both have long tenures in education.
Magee, 58, told The Almanac in an email that she ran “as a passionate advocate for all students, to support our educator workforce, and to ensure students get an excellent education and graduate with relevant skills.”
Waddell, 55, said in an email that he ran “because I have spent my entire career — as a teacher, counselor, principal, deputy superintendent, and statewide curriculum leader — in the service of equity.”
Each candidate raised more than $100,000 in campaign contributions, including loans and non-monetary donations. Campaign finance reports filed on May 24 show Magee had raised more than $122,000 and spent more than $95,000, while Waddell had raised more than $115,000 and spent more than $90,000.
Both also loaned their campaigns a considerable amount of their own money — Waddell $10,000 and Magee $35,000. Waddell’s campaign has also borrowed $5,000 from retiree Jean Holbrook of San Mateo.
Check back for updates or go to the San Mateo County elections office website.
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• See earlier stories: Waddell and Magee vie for county superintendent of schools job, and Spending is high in county schools superintendent race