Race For South Bay School Board Seat Gets Ugly

I remember that a few years ago a CVESD board candidate running against Bertha Lopez said that some young men forced him to leave a street corner where he stood with one of his campaign signs. It sounds like Pearl Quinones friends use similar tactics.

Race For South Bay School Board Seat Gets Ugly
By Diana Guevara
Oct 31, 2012

A race for a seat on a South Bay school board is getting ugly as one candidate accuses another for terrorizing her family.

When Jesseca Saenz-Gonzalez decided to run for Sweetwater Union High School District's Seat Two, she knew it was not going to be easy. But she says things have gotten out of control.

Gonzalez claims a 12th-grade boy has been stalking her, taking photos of her young children and has damaged her campaign car with rocks.

She also alleges one of the rocks went through the window and struck her husband in the face.

“I know that we open ourselves up when we're running for a campaign," Saenz said. “But when it comes to children, that's where I draw the line."

Gonzalez has filed four police reports with the Chula Vista Police Department with incidents dating back to September.

“As far as throwing something in the vehicle, if the person’s intent is to cause harm, it could be a felony," said Captain Gary Wedge with the Chula Vista Police Department. "If a person is throwing water balloons in car, it could be a misdemeanor."

Wedge says they are still looking into whether there is any connection to Gonzalez's campaign.

For more voter information and news related to next week's election, check out our Vote San Diego section.

Gonzalez believes her opponent Pearl Quiñones is behind the boy's antics.

“She doesn't have a platform,” said Quiñones, the current Board President for the Sweetwater Union High School District to NBC 7. “So she's just trying to run on something that she's going to discredit me."

Quiñones says the boy, whose name we are not disclosing since he is a minor, is a friend of the family.

“He's working for my campaign, not against hers, “said Quiñones

Gonzalez told NBC 7 she has since hired private security guards to escort her and her family.

Gonzalez and Quiñones are two of four candidates who will face off for Sweetwater Union High School District's Seat 2 on November 6.