Politics & Government

Two School Board Candidates Opt to Run Campaign Together

Elisa Williamson and Kelli Moors, who have been on the Carlsbad Unified Board of Trustees together since 2000, decided to campaign together.

Two Carlsbad Unified School District trustees have decided to run as a team.

Kelli Moors and Elisa Williamson, incumbents, will compete for the two seats against challenger Ray Pearson (who was previously profiled by Carlsbad Patch and has the support of Carlsbad High Students students).

The two have worked alongside each other on the board for more than 12 years, and have known each other since 1996.

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“It’s the first time it’s been done in Carlsbad, as far as I know,” said Williamson.

“We’re not running together because we’re friends, it’s a deep professional respect for our team and we want to continue the work we do together,” Moors said.

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Both Williamson and Moors are long-time Carlsbad residents with children that went through the Carlsbad Unified School District from kindergarten to high school.

Though the two candidates are running together, they don’t agree on everything. 

“We have a lot of different opinions. We start at a different place but at the end nearly inevitably, we are in agreement,” Williamson said. “We will argue passionately. But in the end we listen to each other and each bring different strengths.”

Moors who is a business development manager for a local hospital said she brings legislative skills to the table while Williamson, who is a trained teacher and marketing director for an investment advisor, is good at policy.

If re-elected, both said they will continue to work on the opening of Sage Creek High School while working with a minimal state budget and a new superintendent.

“I really want to be there to see vision through of Proposition P that we worked so hard to get passed. I want to stay the course and deliver two great high schools,” said Moors.

Williamson agreed, and said, “In the meantime, we will continue to do what's necessary to maintain a balanced budget and provide the best possible education to each student.”


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