WATSONVILLE >> The early votes in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board elections appeared to bode well for newcomers in two of the three races.

In Area 2, Carol Turley — general manager of the Pajaro Dunes Association — had a double-digit lead over incumbent President Georgia Acosta, with Turley receiving 55.8% of the vote, compared to Acosta’s 43.5% on Wednesday.

Turley said she was not ready to declare victory until all ballots had been counted but was pleased with the overall campaign.

“I’m proud of the campaign that we ran and thankful for the many, many supporters who were boots on the ground,” she said.

If elected, Turley said she plans to follow through on promises made during the campaign, namely listening to all voices and trying to understand all perspectives with decisions centered around what’s best for the students. Acosta did not return requests for comment.

Likewise in Area 6, local artist and former Watsonville High School teacher Jessica Carrasco led appointed sitting Trustee Adam Bolaños Scow with 55.6% of the vote compared to Scow’s 43.4%. Scow declined to comment until more results came in. Carrasco did not return requests for comment.

However, there was one district where the incumbent trustee led, albeit narrowly. In Area 3, which covers portions of Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, Vice President Oscar Soto led with 53% of the vote in Santa Cruz County over Cabrillo College professor Gabriel Jesse Medina, who received 46% of the vote. In Monterey County, however, both candidates received an even amount of 614 votes each. When factoring in the two counties, Soto led with 49% compared to Medina’s 47%.

Soto did not return requests for comment. In a statement, Medina said he was feeling hopeful and optimistic.

“This election was always going to be close, and we are seeing that play out now,” he said. “Let’s continue to keep up the hope and positive energy as we await the final results. In 2020, the winner wasn’t declared until late November, and I’m confident that as every ballot is counted, we can close this gap and move ahead.”

The election comes amid a rather tense year for the board. The board decided last year not to renew the district’s ethnic studies contract with Community Responsive Education. The decision stemmed over concerns about some of the material included in a rejected framework that had been presented to the California Department of Education and co-signed by Community Responsive Education founder Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales. This move has led to packed board meetings with members of the public voicing their displeasure with the leadership. In one instance, the board called for a 30-minute recess following a verbal outcry from the public after capping public comments at 30 minutes.

Elsewhere on the ballot, the district’s bond initiative Measure M appeared to be leading with a combined 52.3% of the “Yes” vote in both counties compared to 42.1% of the “No” vote. It needs 55% of the vote to pass.

The board recently gained a new trustee when it voted to appoint Salinas physician and Aptos parent Dr. Misty Navarro, following Trustee Jennifer Holm’s resignation in October. The board may be going through the appointment process again soon as Trustee Kim De Serpa is leading in her race for the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, which would create a new vacancy on the board in January should she be declared the winner.

The next round of results will be posted Thursday.