Amphitheater Public Schools governing board incumbent Michael Gemma held a lead in the race for a two-year seat on election night, taking about 53 percent of the unofficial vote.
Gemma, a former Canyon del Oro High School principal who was appointed to the board in 2025, led Kimberly Outlaw Ryan, according to Tucson Sentinel reporting. Ryan is the deputy general counsel of the Tucson Airport Authority, AZ Luminaria reported. Both candidates sought the seat after it was vacated because of a death on the board, according to AZ Luminaria.
The tighter contest was for two open four-year seats. Elizabeth Slater, CEO of nonprofit dropout prevention organization Youth On Their Own, led with about 36 percent of the vote. Nina Godlewski, a retired Amphitheater teacher, followed with about 35 percent. Retired teacher John Fife trailed with about 30 percent, according to the Tucson Sentinel.
The gap was narrow. An unknown number of early ballots dropped off before or on Election Day, Nov. 3, still needed verification by the Pima County Recorder's Office before they could be counted, the Tucson Sentinel reported.
The first batch of results, released just after 8 p.m. Nov. 3, reflected early ballots tabulated by the Pima County Elections Department before polls closed. An update around 11:45 p.m. added ballots cast on Election Day.
The Amphi district stretches from north Tucson through Oro Valley and Catalina. The board closed four schools in spring 2026, and it will vote on a new superintendent after Todd Jaeger is set to retire at the end of the 2026-27 school year, AZ Luminaria reported.
The Arizona Daily Star described Godlewski as a recently retired Amphi teacher of 19 years. She told the Star before the election that she believes "in the quality of the district" and is running because she "isn't done contributing to" her community.
Gemma told the Star before the election that he would like to help the two new four-year members adjust to serving on the board.
The Catalina Foothills Unified School District board race was uncontested. Three candidates, Eric Thu, Marissa Baretich and Ivelisse Bonilla, ran for three open seats, according to the Tucson Sentinel.
