The Fair Oaks Civic Society is a group of Fair Oaks neighbors working to make sure no local election goes uncontested. We don't endorse candidates or take sides. We just believe voters deserve a choice — and that starts with someone being willing to run.
16 local elected positions are on the ballot November 2026 in Fair Oaks — and most of them will go uncontested unless someone steps up. In past elections, the majority of these seats were decided without a single competitive race. Incumbents won by default. Seats were filled by appointment. Voters never got a say.
We're looking for 16 people willing to put their name on a ballot. Filing opens July 13 and closes August 7, 2026.
<aside> 🗳️
Ready to run? Read on to learn what's on the ballot, who can run, and how to file. If you want help figuring out where to start, email us at [email protected].
</aside>
<aside> 📰
Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our Substack for district summaries, board meeting recaps, and election updates.
</aside>
16 seats across 6 districts.
| District | What They Do | Budget | Seats Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧 Fair Oaks Water District | Drinking water for Fair Oaks | ~$20M | 3 |
| 🏞️ Fair Oaks Rec & Park | Parks, programs, community facilities | ~$10M | 2 |
| 🚒 Metro Fire District | Fire & emergency services | ~$300M | 4 |
| ⚡ SMUD | Electricity for Sacramento County | ~$2B | 4 |
| 🎓 Los Rios CCD | Community colleges (incl. ARC) | ~$1B | 3 |
| 🏫 San Juan USD | K-12 schools for Fair Oaks | ~$800M | 4 |
You can! Seriously.
✅ You're Eligible If You...
❌ You Do NOT Need...
These boards are designed for community oversight. The districts have professional staff who handle operations. Board members set policy, approve budgets, and represent residents. If you care about your community, you're qualified.
<aside> 💬
Manuel Perez, a dad and trucker from Citrus Heights, ran for school board and now represents San Juan USD Area 7.
Tanya Kravchuk, a mom of four and construction company co-owner, ran for school board and now serves as president of San Juan USD Area 5.
</aside>
It's 4 steps.
Decide: Now – July 12
Pick a district. Look up if your home address is within a division up for election. Attend a board meeting to see what it's like. Not sure where to start? Reach out to us — we'll help you figure out which seat makes sense. Email us at [email protected].
File: July 13 – August 7
Visit the Sacramento County Elections Office. Fill out the forms.
Campaign: August – October
We can help you create a website to advertise your candidacy. You can advertise yourself as much or as little as you'd like.
Win: November 3
Election Day is November 3, 2026. If you filed and no one else did — you already won. That's the problem, but it's also the opportunity.