Newcomer Garibaldi announces run for WCCUSD Area 5, incumbent Gonzalez-Hoy for Area 4 (CORRECTED)

UPDATE: Reckler will not run for reelection

CORRECTION: Updated 10:30 am July 12 to reflect the fact that Zelon Harrison, who earlier took steps to run in Area 4, closed her campaign committee.

While filing doesn’t open until Monday, July 13, newcomer Caitlin Garibaldi has announced she is running in West Contra Costa Unified School District Area 5 and incumbent Demetrio Gonzalez-Hoy has announced he is running for reelection in Area 4.

Although El Cerrito won’t transition to district elections until 2028, WCCUSD began electing board members by area in 2020 after being compelled to do so by a lawsuit.

Area 5 consists of El Cerrito, Kensington, and a chunk of Richmond.

In the Area 5 race, Garibaldi has already filed FPPC documents indicating she plans to be a candidate and establishing a “Garibaldi for WCCUSD Trustee 2026” campaign committee. She has also set up a campaign website.

Garibaldi has lived in El Cerrito for seven years, is a Fairmont Elementary School parent, and works in pet care. [Garibaldi background added July 13.]

The seat is currently held by Leslie Reckler. There are no documents for the current election for Reckler on the county financial disclosure site. While her campaign site from 2022 is still up, it doesn’t seem to have been updated for the 2026 election.

Area 4 incumbent Gonzalez-Hoy announced his reelection bid on social media on July 9. He has filed both the FPPC document that he intends to be a candidate and one establishing the “Demetrio Gonzalez for WCCUSD School Board Area 4, 2026” committee. A report for his 2022 committee covering the last half of 2025 shows expenditures of $290 and a remaining balance of $4,046.33. 

In Area 4, Zelon Harrison filed a FPPC document to establish the “Harrison for School Board WCCUSD Area 4 - 2026” committee and set up a campaign website, but filed a follow up document Dated April 1 and marked received by the county May 1 that she was terminating the committee. 

Harrison is chair of the school district’s African American Site Advisory Team, a member of the district Local Control Accountability Parent-Students Committee, and is a nontraditional black wellness healer, according to her campaign website.`

Nomination and financial disclosure statements for the school district races are handled by Contra Costa County.

See the image for the boundaries of WCCUSD Areas 4 and 5.

Filing will close Aug. 7, with an extension to Aug. 12 if any incumbent in that race does not file.

For more information about elections in El Cerrito and the West Contra Costa Unified School District, including links to where financial disclosure forms are posted and where nomination papers will be posted see the El Cerrito Wire elections page.