Nevada County Primary: Who's Running the Show in Schools and City Hall

Nevada County voters had a pair of significant local races on their June 2 ballot that’ll shape education and city governance for years to come. While state and national contests grabbed the headlines, these local matchups hit closer to home—literally affecting the schools your kids attend and the decisions that shape Nevada City’s future.

The superintendent’s race came down to a straight fight: John Baggett versus Timothy Reid. Both candidates were vying for control of one of the county’s most consequential positions, the kind of role that determines curriculum priorities, budget allocation, and how well our schools serve students. In Nevada City proper, the council race drew a three-way scrum between James Khatami, Adam Kline, and Micayla Sortland—all competing for seats that decide zoning, development, and municipal services for residents.

Here’s the thing about primary elections in California: unless a candidate crosses that 50-percent-plus-one threshold, the top two vote-getters move forward to the November general election. That means even if you pick a favorite in June, you might get a rematch in the fall. It’s a system designed to narrow the field, but it also means June results don’t always tell the whole story.

These races matter. School board decisions ripple through families for years, and city council votes determine whether your neighborhood stays quiet or gets rezoned for development. Local elections are where your ballot actually moves the needle on decisions that affect your daily life—way more directly than most state or federal races ever will. That’s why showing up in June counts, even when the attention’s on the bigger names.