Voters return the District 1 council member to office, shift the balance of power on the school board and weigh in on transportation funding, college facilities and races across San Bernardino County.
Final unofficial election night returns show sizable leads for two incumbents and a school board newcomer as candidates and supporters react to results at downtown Redlands gatherings.
Police say the suspect broke in through the roof of the business, stole $10,000 in merchandise and returned days later with a stolen gaming console. He was also wanted in a separate puppy theft case.
Voters return the District 1 council member to office, shift the balance of power on the school board and weigh in on transportation funding, college facilities and races across San Bernardino County.
REDLANDS, Calif. — Redlands City Council member Denise Davis secured a third term Tuesday, Nov. 3, while Patty Holohan and Ryan Schavrien emerged victorious in the Redlands Unified school board races, shifting the balance of power on the five-member board.
Davis captured 60.5% of the vote in the District 1 City Council race, while Holohan received 56.8% in Trustee Area 1 and Schavrien received 55.3% in Trustee Area 2, according to final unofficial election-night results from the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters.
All precincts reported election-night results, though additional ballots remain to be counted before the election is certified.
Davis, first elected in 2018, won another four-year term representing District 1, defeating challengers Doug Gonzales and Andrew Hoder.
Speaking with Community Forward Redlands after the first results were released Tuesday, Davis said she felt relieved after months of campaigning and conversations with residents about neighborhood concerns, housing, development and city services.
"I've been proud to be your representative for eight years," Davis said. "I'm always here, even if we don't align on every single political issue."
Davis' campaign raised $77,530, more than half of which came from individual donors.
The other two City Council incumbents on the ballot, Mario Saucedo in District 3 and Paul Barich in District 5, ran unopposed and won reelection.
The Redlands Unified School District Board of Education will have a new governing majority after voters reelected Holohan in Trustee Area 1 and elected Schavrien in Trustee Area 2.
Holohan, seeking her sixth term, received 56.8% of the vote against challenger Dale Broome, who received 43.2%.
In the open Area 2 race, Schavrien received 55.3%, followed by Maria Montes with 32.2% and Tiara Richardson with 12.3%.
Their victories are expected to shift the board's balance of power, with Holohan, Schavrien and current board member Melissa Rendler forming a new three-member majority.
The outcome follows two years of divisions over district governance, curriculum and debates over books and flags that have drawn large crowds and heated public comments at board meetings.
Schavrien described the results as a rejection of the board's recent direction.
"Tonight, voters showed that they're rejecting the division and the hate, and they want unity and positivity and great things for our students, for our educators, and for our community," Schavrien said Tuesday.
Holohan, who watched the returns with supporters in downtown Redlands, expressed a similar sentiment.
"They didn't like what has been happening for the last two years, and they wanted to restore Redlands Unified," Holohan said.
Both Holohan and Schavrien were supported by Together for Redlands, a local 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that has opposed several decisions by the current school board majority.
"Reclaiming the Redlands Unified School Board from Candy Olson and the extremists has been an incredible grassroots effort by hundreds of diverse volunteers and supporters across party lines," said Samantha Trad, speaking on behalf of Together for Redlands.
"These wins are a clear and resounding message that our schools and community want real leadership that is focused on restoring Redlands Unified's good reputation and casting off unhinged extremism," Trad said.
Thanking volunteers and voters, Trad said the election victories were just the beginning.
"Together, we have built a beautiful and growing community of concerned citizens who are going to be watching and making sure Redlands Unified gets back on track, teachers, librarians, and staff return to the district, and our students thrive like never before," Trad said.
The newly constituted board will oversee a district facing ongoing challenges in student achievement, attendance and school funding.
Cali Binks held a nearly 13,000-vote lead over Alejandro "Alex" Vara in the race for San Bernardino County superintendent of schools, receiving 52% of the vote to Vara's 47.9%, according to unofficial election-night results.
The nonpartisan office oversees the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools organization, which provides educational services, administrative support and fiscal oversight to school districts throughout the county.
Richard Barrera held a commanding lead over Sonja Shaw in the statewide race for California superintendent of public instruction, receiving 57% of the vote to Shaw's 42%, according to unofficial results Wednesday morning.
The nonpartisan office oversees the California Department of Education and plays a major role in implementing education policies and administering state and federal education programs.
Two major funding measures affecting Redlands and surrounding communities exceeded their required approval thresholds in unofficial election-night results.
Measure I, which would continue San Bernardino County's existing half-cent transportation sales tax beyond its scheduled expiration in 2040, received 69% support, above the two-thirds threshold required for approval.
The measure would not increase the existing tax rate. Redlands currently receives approximately $2 million annually from Measure I for local streets and roads, while the tax has also helped fund regional transportation projects, including freeway improvements and the Arrow passenger rail service.
Measure Y, an $898 million bond proposal for the San Bernardino Community College District, received 63% support, exceeding the 55% approval threshold.
The measure would finance repairs, upgrades and construction at Crafton Hills College, San Bernardino Valley College and other district facilities, including classrooms, laboratories and career training facilities.
Property owners within the district would pay an estimated $25 annually per $100,000 of assessed property value.
Both members of Congress representing portions of Redlands won reelection Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to race calls by The Associated Press.
Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar defeated Republican challenger Stephanie M. Vargas in California's 33rd Congressional District, while Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte defeated Democrat Tessa Lynn Hodge in the 23rd Congressional District.
The two congressional districts divide Redlands, with residents represented by Aguilar or Obernolte depending on where they live.
All three California Assembly members representing portions of Redlands held leads in their reelection races.
Because Redlands is divided among three Assembly districts, residents' representation depends on where they live within the city.
Results remain unofficial as the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters continues counting outstanding mail and provisional ballots. The next results update is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, by 6 p.m.
For updated local, county and statewide results, visit Community Forward Redlands' Redlands Votes 2026 election guide.
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