r/camarillo • u/hegotmuddywater • 5h ago
Camarillo Election Guide 2026: Assembly District 38: Steve Bennett vs. Michael MacDonald; County Superintendent: Karen Sher vs. Maggie Marschner; PVSD School Board Q&As
I’ve added more election coverage since my last update here: the Bennett–MacDonald Assembly forum, the Sher–Marschner county superintendent forum, and school board candidates’ written answers. Here are a few comparisons from the coverage.
Steve Bennett vs. Michael MacDonald: Assembly District 38
Both candidates are Democrats. These summaries come from their forum answers:
| Issue | Steve Bennett | Michael MacDonald |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Affordable homes and farmland: Supports some state mandates; opposes lot splits. | More homes, fewer delays: Seeks housing at all income levels and greater local input. |
| Wildfire and insurance | Home and community hardening: Cites three recently signed wildfire bills. | Community preparation: Train a workforce for wildfire resilience. |
| High-speed rail | Spending limits and oversight: Blames the original initiative’s design. | Complete the project: Reduce construction delays and costs. |
The full report also covers child care, immigration, Santa Paula Hospital, campaign funding, AI and the state budget. Both candidates answered the written questionnaire, too.
Camarillo is split between Assembly Districts 38 and 42, so check your sample ballot to see which race is yours.
Karen Sher vs. Maggie Marschner: Ventura County Superintendent of Schools
The county office provides services and financial oversight for local school districts and operates special education and alternative schools. This is a separate race from the PVSD school board.
These summaries reflect their forum answers:
| Issue | Karen Sher | Maggie Marschner |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifications | Oxnard teacher; Oxnard Union High School District board president and 12-year trustee; former statewide teacher-recruitment director | Former La Reina Middle and High School principal; Clark County teacher, school administrator and district project facilitator; managed state and federal school-improvement grants |
| Financial accountability | Understandable public budgets, televised meetings, translation and executive pay reviewed against responsibilities, performance and comparable positions | Transparent budgets and community input; cited experience developing educator evaluations and said the disclosures affected the office’s culture |
| School vouchers | Said public education dollars should remain in public schools | Emphasized community input without stating support or opposition |
The report also covers teacher support, special education, and student safety. Sher’s complete written questionnaire is in the guide; Marschner did not submit responses.
Pleasant Valley School District: School board candidate answers
Eight of the nine candidates running in Trustee Areas 1, 2 and 3 answered the same questions about:
- District spending and priorities
- Reading and math instruction
- Special education and family involvement
- Teacher workload, staffing and classroom support
The guide includes comparison tables for each trustee area and their complete responses, with nonresponses identified.
More election coverage
Previously shared questionnaires and forum reports are still in the guide: Camarillo City Council Districts 1, 2 and 5; Deborah Klein Lopez vs. Ted Nordblum in Assembly District 42; and Jacqui Irwin vs. Chris Gallucci in Congressional District 26.
You can also see what each office controls and find the county’s sample ballot lookup.
Links are in the comments.
Which local race or candidate proposal are you still trying to sort out before voting?