Los Altos school board campaign brings in over $30K

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The race for three seats on the Los Altos School District’s board has brought in over $30,000, both from community donations and loans candidates have made to themselves.

Campaign finance disclosures covering the period from Jan. 1 through Oct. 17 reveal that newcomer David Poll’s campaign has raised the most, with nearly $13,000 in contributions recorded. That includes $8,500 that Poll loaned his campaign.

Incumbent Shali Sirkay reported bringing in roughly $8,400 by Oct. 17, including a $5,000 loan from Los Altos resident Nishikant Mane. Fellow incumbent Brandon Stroy similarly drew about $8,000 in contributions, including about $4,600 that he loaned to his campaign.

While the most recent disclosure period ended Oct. 17, candidates are also required to report any contributions over $1,000 within 24 hours. Those filings show that Stroy received another $3,900 in late October from Santa Clara County Board of Education member Jessica Speiser, who used to serve on the Los Altos school board. Sirkay also disclosed receiving $1,000 from former Los Altos School District member Sangeeth Peruri.

The final candidate, incumbent Bryan Johnson, filed paperwork indicating that he planned to raise and spend less than $2,000 this year. That’s the threshold under which candidates don’t have to disclose more specific campaign finance information.

David Poll

Poll, the sole non-incumbent in the race, has raised roughly $12,902.86, including $8,500 that he loaned his campaign. Poll also donated another $252.40. The total also includes a $912 non-monetary donation from the Los Altos School District teachers’ union, which bought ads in the Los Altos Town Crier newspaper. Poll is the only candidate to receive the teachers’ union’s endorsement.

He has spent roughly $11,100, mostly for signage and outreach to voters via email and text. 

Shali Sirkay

Sirkay has raised $3,359.67 in donations, plus the $5,000 loan, for a total of $8,359.67 in contributions by Oct. 17.  She also carried over $1,440 in cash from her previous campaign.

Her donors include county board of education member Jessica Speiser ($515.38), Mountain View Whisman school board member Devon Conley ($103.48), Santa Clara Unified school board member Vickie Fairchild ($103.48) and former Los Altos school board member Tamara Logan ($100). 

Other donations came from Los Altos City Council member and Valley Water candidate Pete Dailey ($257.94), Los Altos City Council candidate Anky van Deursen ($100) and El Camino Healthcare District board member John Zoglin ($250).

Sirkay has spent roughly $4,560 to cover campaign lawn signs and her candidate statement.

Brandon Stroy

Stroy has received $3,371.50 in donations, as well as loaning his campaign $4,635.14, for a total of $8,006.64 in contributions by Oct. 17. This is Stroy’s first election cycle, as he was appointed to the school board earlier this year to replace Vladimir Ivanovic, who resigned from the board.

Since Oct. 17, disclosures show that Stroy received two donations from county board of education member Jessica Speiser, one for $2,000 on Oct. 23 and another for $1,900 on Oct. 26.

​Los Altos School District Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Erik Walukiewicz also donated $102.47 to Stroy’s campaign. 

Stroy reported spending $4,936.52, mostly for website maintenance and design, campaign signage and his candidate statement

Check out the Voice’s 2026 Voter Guide, which includes in-depth coverage of this and other local races and ballot measures. 

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