Retired educator, former trustee vie for open San Jose Unified Area 4 seat

Voters in San Jose Unified School District's Trustee Area 4 will choose Tuesday, Nov. 3, between retired district educator Mary Grunthaner and former trustee Michael Melillo to replace Trustee Brian Wheatley, who is not running again, according to Ballotpedia and the candidates' websites.

Wheatley has held the seat since 2019, and his term ends in December.  Area 4 covers part of southwest San Jose, including Almaden Elementary, John Muir Middle and Broadway High, the Mercury News reported.  Two of the board's five seats are on the ballot.

Mary Grunthaner

Grunthaner spent 32 years as a teacher and assistant principal, including at San José High, Ohlone Middle, Willow Glen High, where she was an assistant principal from 2007 to 2013, and John Muir Middle, before retiring in June 2024, her campaign site says.  She was a site leader for the San José Teachers Association.  She lists her priorities as "safety, accountability, and progress" and stresses counseling and mental health services at schools.

Michael Melillo

Melillo is a senior data scientist at Apple, where he has worked about 20 years, his site says.  The board appointed him to a seat in 2018; he lost that year's election to Wheatley, 56.6% to 43.4%, Ballotpedia shows.  He chaired San Jose's Library and Early Education Commission and the district's bond oversight committee, and his two children attend district schools.  He lists student outcomes, school safety, teacher support and transparency as priorities and criticized how the board decided to close five schools.  "I am not looking for a career in politics," he writes.

Endorsements

The Mercury News editorial board endorsed Melillo on Oct. 30, saying he is "best equipped to tackle the district's financial challenges."  It called Grunthaner "a dedicated educator" but said her skills are better suited to running a campus.

Grunthaner is endorsed by the San José Teachers Association, the Santa Clara County Democratic Party, CSEA Chapter 4, a union of district workers, Supervisor Susan Ellenberg and Councilmembers Peter Ortiz and Anthony Tordillos, her site says.  Melillo lists the building trades unions, the California Working Families Party, Assemblymembers Patrick Ahrens and Alex Lee, and Councilmember David Cohen.  The South Bay Labor Council endorsed both.

Source:  Ballotpedia); Grunthaner about, issues and endorsements; Melillo about, issues and endorsements; South Bay Labor Council; Mercury News editorial, Oct. 30.