The seven-member board that oversees public education in San Mateo County has one open seat in the November election and two local candidates vying to represent District 7, which includes Atherton and Menlo Park. The candidates, in alphabetical order, are Jo-Ann Sockolov Byrne of Atherton, and Joe Ross of Menlo Park.

Longtime board member and Menlo Park resident Guillermo "Memo" Morantes chose not to for re-election. In June, Mr. Morantes ran unsuccessfully in the primary election for a seat on the county Board of Supervisors.

The candidate filing period closed Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Ms. Sockolov Byrne is the executive director of the Redwood City Education Foundation, according to the foundation's website.

Mr. Ross is an attorney and the executive director of the California office of Citizen Schools, an education nonprofit with headquarters in Washington, D.C., and offices in eight states. His office is in Redwood City.

In November 2011, Mr. Ross finished fourth, behind three incumbents, among six candidates running for three seats on the board of the county community college district.

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