Mike Wachs wins a seat on the Pacific Grove Union School District Board over Marie Hunter.

Mike Wachs has won a seat on the P.G. Unified School District board for Area 2 in the Nov. 5 election over candidate Marie Hunter. The latest election results show Wachs earned 55.6 percent of the votes cast, compared to Hunter's 44.3 percent.

Wachs, who works in marketing, lives with his wife and two children in P.G. He was endorsed by the Monterey County Democrats and the Pacific Grove Progressives, in a town where a majority of voters are registered as Democrats.

Hunter, a technology consultant, was endorsed by the Republican Party and the conservative California Parents Union, which advocates for "parental rights," part of a socially conservative political movement. 

In January 2023, P.G. Mayor Bill Peake recommended Hunter's appointment to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, despite the fact that on her application she had voiced doubts such a task force was useful. She was not appointed to it by the council after some residents raised objections.

The PGUSD Board will welcome another new member, Beth Shammas in Area 4. Shammas, who previously served on the board, was the only candidate and was appointed in-lieu of an election.