6/9/2010 - Voters keep County Superintendent Thomas in Office

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – With more than 60 percent of the popular vote in San

Bernardino County in the June 8 primary election, Gary Thomas will retain

his position as superintendent of the County Schools’ office.



“I appreciate the tremendous support I have received by our county voters,

and I am grateful to everyone who supported my campaign for county

superintendent,” Thomas said.



In unofficial results with all precincts reporting, according to the

county Registrar of Voters, Thomas received 78,828 votes or 60.3 percent

of

the vote. Art Delgado (29,192 votes or 22.3 percent) and Rita Ramirez-Dean

(22,782 or 17.4 percent) followed.



This was the first election for the county superintendent position for

Thomas, who was appointed to fill the seat of Herbert Fischer, who retired

as county superintendent in August 2008.



“With the voter’s mandate, I am now more determined than ever to provide

the educational services that our staff, schools and districts need to see

that our students achieve academically and successfully graduate,” he

said.

“I am committed to helping our schools offer safe learning environments,

and I also will continue to advocate for stable funding for our schools

while helping our districts manage these difficult economic times.”



Thomas was appointed county superintendent in August 2008. The county

superintendent oversees 2,000 employees and a $350 million annual budget.

It is an intermediate agency between the California Department of

Education

and local school districts with a charter to oversee the financial health

of the 33 K-12 school districts, and to provide excellence in educational

programs to children with special needs and at-risk youth.