The Nov. 3 election ballot will feature numerous local races, including Mayor of Morgan Hill, two seats on the City Council and four seats on the Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Education.
The last day to register to vote for the midterm election is Oct. 19. Santa Clara County election officials will begin mailing out vote-by-mail packets by early October, and early voting begins Oct. 5.
Over the next few weeks, in an effort to help readers become more informed about their choices, the Times will publish short candidate biographies and statements for the local city council and board of education races.
This week, we start with the candidates for Mayor and MHUSD Trustee Area 1. Deborah M. Africa, Kristopher L. Clayton and incumbent Mark Turner are running for Mayor. Running for MHUSD TA1 are incumbent Nancy Altman-Palm and Jason Amezcua.
Statements and bios are published as written by the candidates, with minor editing for space and clarity.
To register to vote or to find more information about the Nov. 3 election, visit the Santa Clara County Registrar’s website at sccvote.org.
Deborah M. Africa
Candidate for Mayor
Background: Deborah Africa is a retired registered nurse, educator, health services administrator and community advocate living in Morgan Hill. Her distinctive family name has French and German roots and reflects a history of resilience and belonging. She is running for mayor to bring compassion, transparency and accountable leadership to every neighborhood.
Candidate statement: Morgan Hill needs a mayor who listens and puts residents first. I am running because city government should be transparent, accountable and focused on the everyday concerns of the people who live here.
My background is in nursing, education, public administration and community advocacy. For more than three decades, I worked in critical care, managed complex services, coordinated public programs, wrote grants, taught students and worked with public agencies.
That experience taught me how to listen under pressure, make responsible decisions and keep people at the center of every challenge.
My name also carries a story that shaped me. Africa is a French-German-American family name rooted in a history of migration, adoption, resilience and belonging. Those lessons—compassion, care, respect and resilience—still guide how I serve others and how I would lead Morgan Hill.
My priorities are safe neighborhoods, transparent government, responsible growth, affordable housing, support for local businesses and protecting the open space and quality of life that make Morgan Hill special. I will work for every neighborhood, welcome public input and lead with compassion, respect, advocacy and honesty.
Kristopher L. Clayton
Candidate for Mayor
Background: Kristopher has called Morgan Hill home for 46 years—growing up near its parks, hills and historic downtown. As a carpenter and father, he’s committed to strengthening the community that shaped him. His life reflects Morgan Hill’s values: unity, family and a shared love for the place generations have built together.
Candidate statement: I’m asking for your vote because Morgan Hill deserves leadership from someone who didn’t just move here—someone who is Morgan Hill. I’ve lived my entire life in this town, graduated from Live Oak High School, and went straight into the trades.
I’ve been a carpenter ever since—working with my hands, solving problems the practical way and living the same blue collar reality as the families who keep this town running.
I’m raising my kids here the same way I was raised: surrounded by familiar streets, familiar faces and traditions that carry real meaning.
I grew up with the Mushroom Mardi Gras—not just as a festival, but as a reminder of who we are. It’s families walking shoulder-to-shoulder, local vendors hustling to make a living, kids running around with sticky hands and big smiles, and neighbors catching up like no time has passed. It’s a tradition that shows our pride isn’t fancy—it’s hardworking, blue collar and built on community.
That same pride shows up at the Fourth of July parade, Friday Night Music, the holiday lights downtown and every moment this town comes together. Morgan Hill isn’t a place you just live in—it’s a place you grow up with, fight for and pass down to your kids.
I’m running to protect that spirit. That means keeping our open spaces, backing the small businesses that give Morgan Hill its character, fixing the roads and infrastructure we all rely on and making sure working families—the backbone of this town—can afford to stay here.
I’m not here for politics or photo ops. I’m here for the people who built this community with grit, loyalty and honest work.
Morgan Hill is part of my history and my pride. I’m committed to transparency, straight answers and leadership that puts residents first.
Mark Turner
Candidate for Mayor
Background: As mayor since December 2022, I serve on various committees and commissions representing the interests of Morgan Hill throughout the region. My wife and I have lived in Morgan Hill for 33 years, raising our three daughters here. I am a former Associate Pastor, Chamber CEO, and Chair of the Silicon Valley Chamber Coalition.
Candidate statement: There is a great deal going right in Morgan Hill. A downtown with life in it. Companies choosing to locate here and bringing good jobs with them. More of our residents working close to home. A renewed focus on youth sports and recreation tourism. And a city that stands behind the men and women who keep us safe.
That progress didn’t happen by chance. It took leadership and persistence. When I first ran for office, the picture was different. Our police officers did not always have clear, consistent support from council. Morgan Hill was not always viewed by commercial developers as a community that welcomed investment and economic growth.
Investment in our downtown was treated as optional rather than essential. And when youth sports and recreation tourism came up, the most common response was, “We’ve tried that before.”
I ran on three commitments: strengthen public safety, get serious about economic development and pursue tourism opportunities.
Today, the council’s support for our public safety personnel is clear and consistent. Our economic development work has helped create an environment where existing companies are expanding and new companies are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Morgan Hill bringing new jobs and new opportunities.
We are deliberately pursuing youth tournaments, competitions and swim meets, strengthening our local youth programs while filling our hotels, restaurants and shops.
I also campaigned on local control, and that has been the hardest commitment to keep. The Governor and Legislature have steadily narrowed what cities decide for themselves, backed by the threat of litigation and financial penalties. The need for housing is real, and I don’t dismiss it. But decisions about how a community grows are best made by the people who live with the results. That is a fight worth continuing.
We are moving in the right direction.
Nancy Altman-Palm
Candidate for MHUSD Trustee Area 1
Background: In August 1998 I started my Special Education teaching career at Britton Middle School. While a teacher, I served as Department Chair, head girls’ basketball coach, was a mentor teacher and served many years as union rep and member of the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers negotiating committee. In 2017, I was appointed Assistant Principal at Britton until I retired in 2021.
Candidate statement: My experiences as a parent and working for the Morgan Hill Unified School District and union work gives me background knowledge for the position, particularly regarding education and the budget.
As an incumbent I’m fighting for fiscal responsibility and working toward a balanced budget not dependent on grants being used to reduce deficit spending. I hope to lead the board to focus on improving student achievement rather than continuing to add programs that have no evidence of effectiveness and take money away from potential staff retention by providing more competitive competition.
Lack of transparency is another significant issue facing the district, which results in a lack of public confidence, particularly regarding fiscal matters.
Another concern of mine is that the district has tried to move forward with significant decisions without obtaining stakeholder input and ignoring data which has been obtained that suggests changing course, which is why I did not support putting a bond initiative on the 2026 ballot.
I am honored that Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers gave me a sole endorsement for Trustee Area 1. Classroom teachers are the largest influence on a child’s school experience and teachers not only educate students, but enable them to envision and work toward their potential.
Our teachers currently rank 27th out of 28 school districts in Santa Clara county in terms of compensation. We must do better for our teachers and classified employees.
I have received sole endorsements from South Bay Labor Council, Democrats for Public Education, MHFT, Mayor Mark Turner, Five former MHUSD board presidents. In addition, Cecelia and Gary Ponzini, well-known for their work supporting families and children in need have given me their endorsement, recognizing my efforts to support ALL students.
Jason Amezcua
Candidate for MHUSD Trustee Area 1
Background: I am the father of a recent MHUSD graduate and two current students, and my wife has served nine years as a district special education paraprofessional. I am a former law school dean, and currently serve as a Leadership Morgan Hill Board member and a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. I bring a parent’s perspective, an educator’s dedication to student achievement and a community leader’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Candidate statement: The MHUSD Board of Trustees needs leaders who will advocate for students through learning, belonging and leadership by uniting teachers, families and the community around that work. I will bring transparent, inclusive and forward-looking leadership that puts students at the center of every decision.
That means supporting safe campuses, mental health and special education resources, strong academics, and meaningful pathways to college, military service or the skilled trades. It also means that financial decisions should be informed by facts, long-term needs and a clear understanding of their impact on our stakeholders.
I will approach budgeting with integrity, ask difficult questions when necessary, demand transparency and ensure resources are aligned with measurable student outcomes.
My career spans public, private and nonprofit education, including service as a law school dean, a university administrator,and an investigator.
I have worked with students, faculty, staff, governing boards, regulators, community organizations and institutional partners. My experience includes student support, conduct, behavioral intervention, Title IX, trauma-informed services, multicultural education, wellness and leadership development.
I hold a B.A. in History, a M.S. in College Personnel Administration and a Juris Doctorate in Law. I have also remained deeply engaged in civic and community service through Leadership Morgan Hill, local Chambers of Commerce, the Santa Clara County Superior Court Community Outreach Committee, the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits’ ED 360 program, the NAACP, New Evergreen Church and local school service.
Leadership should never be about personal agendas or rhetoric that divides our community or stalls progress. It should be about listening carefully, collaborating respectfully, making informed decisions and taking meaningful action.
I bring a perspective few candidates can match combining legal training, education leadership, nonprofit service and hands-on student support with the personal perspective of an MHUSD parent and spouse of a district educator.
