The two incumbents in the Milpitas Unified School District board race were in good position to reclaim their seats, as early returns on Nov. 6 showed board president Hai Minh Ngo and trustee Robert Jung ahead of challenger Douglas Sueoka.
Jung led the pack with almost 48% of the 20,630 votes cast. He was appointed to the school board in February 2023, after Hon Lien vacated her seat following her election to the Milpitas City Council. Before that, Jung had served on the district’s school board from 2017-18, a position he was also appointed to after trustee Bob Nuñez was elected to city council.
This is Jung’s first election win; he ran for one of three open seats on the school board in 2022 but lost to Kelly Yip-Chuan, Chris Norwood and Anu Nakka.
Ngo was in second place with almost 36% of the vote. He was appointed to the school board in 2019 and elected to the position in 2020. His three children all attend Alexander Rose Elementary in the district.
Sueoka was also considered for Lien’s school board seat in 2023. He currently serves on the district’s Parcel Tax Oversight Committee and Community Board Advisory Council. He is also president of the Milpitas Inclusive Parent Teachers Association, which focuses on students with disabilities.
The Nov. 5 elections marked Sueoka’s first run for office. He trailed the two incumbents in early returns with almost 17% of the vote.