Keith Barnett and Matthew De La Montanya are running in the nonpartisan special election for District 5 of the Plumas Unified School District, California, on November 4, 2025.
Incumbent Leslie Edlund resigned from the board on April 2. As a result, the board decided to pick a successor to serve the remainder of Edlund’s term, which expires in December 2026. Barnett and De La Montanya were the only two candidates to apply for the seat. On May 12, the board voted 2-1 in favor of Barnett, but under state law, the vote was invalid due to the absence of one member. On May 14, the board reconvened with all members and split 2-2 on who to appoint. Subsequently, Plumas County Office of Education Superintendent Andrea Ceresola-White asked the district’s superintendent, Jim Frost, about the next steps. Frost suggested that either White make an appointment or that she call a special election. On June 2, White called for a special election, which the board approved on June 18.
Barnett is the owner of a construction business. He says he is running because “community trust has been lost, and that the board too often ‘just goes with the flow’ rather than fulfilling its duty to represent.” Barnett is campaigning on his experience as a business owner. He says that he has “served on educational boards within the construction industry and am deeply familiar with budgeting, accounting, payroll, performance evaluations, and setting and achieving goals.” During the initial appointment votes, board members Cindy Crim and Chelsea Harrison voted for Barnett.
De La Montanya is a California Highway Patrol officer. He says he is running “to be a voice for our children, teachers and staff at Plumas Unified School District, and to help with concerns from community members.” De La Montanya says his experience in law enforcement had “further expanded and tested my ability to find solutions in difficult situations. During this career I have been able to participate in several opportunities with the students and staff in the Quincy area.” During the initial appointment votes, board members Jolene Cline and JoDee Johnson voted for De La Montanya, and he received support from Leslie Edlund.
The board voted in April to request $20 million in state funds to address a budget shortfall. Both candidates have discussed how to handle the issue during the campaign. Barnett says the board “need[s] to reflect on past mistakes, take decisive steps to address the financial crisis, and create a team capable of recognizing warning signs before they become emergencies.” De La Montanya says the board needs to improve communication and teamwork, saying, “I understand the state offers various training for the board members. As a board we need to take advantage of this! I will help build a team with the other board members so that we can make better decisions in the future.”
The Plumas Unified School District is located in Plumas County. District 5 of the board includes the cities of East Quincy, Cromberg, and Graeagle.