The Salt Lake City School Board of Education is guaranteed to see at least one new face after November’s midterms.

Four of the board’s seven seats up for grabs, but one race is uncontested, meaning it’s already been decided.

Local school board seats are nonpartisan offices, which means candidates and current elected leaders don’t disclose their party affiliation.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Mail ballots must be dropped off at a ballot dropbox by 8 p.m. on that day or, if returned by mail, must be received by the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Here’s some information about the Salt Lake City school board candidates.

Precinct 3 (Covers portions of the Marmalade, Capitol Hill and Avenues neighborhoods)

Incumbent Ashley Anderson faces off against newcomer Jared Wright.

Anderson has represented Precinct 3 since 2023, according to her campaign website. If reelected, it would mark her second term. She is an artist and longtime arts educator, both in higher education and K-12 spaces.

Wright was the former principal at West High School before resigning in January 2025. Months later, during a hearing before the Utah Legislature’s Rules Review and General Oversight Committee, Wright alleged district officials had retaliated against him because he refused to stop pressing for answers about 2023 student stabbing.

Superintendent Elizabeth Grant shared her testimony before the same committee in October 2025. Under oath, she said Wright’s retaliation claims were false. Grant accused Wright of falsifying transcripts and engaging in unprofessional conduct with the board.

UPPAC formally reprimanded Wright earlier this month. State officials declined to release records about the reprimand, citing a 30-day period until documents could be released (Oct. 31). That could be extended should Wright appeal.

However, in a lengthy statement to The Salt Lake Tribune, which he also posted on his campaign website, Wright said it stemmed from an allegation that he “called a colleague an expletive” nine years ago and a more recent grade change the district alleged was “done improperly.”

He said he “followed district policy” and called the reprimand “baseless,” noting he’s still considering whether it “would be worth the legal fees to appeal it.”

Wright currently serves as principal at Granger High School, which is part of the Granite School District. He’s served in various education roles for over 22 years, according to his campaign website.

Precinct 4 (covers much of the Central City neighborhood)

Newcomer Amanda Finlayson runs uncontested for the Precinct 4 seat.

Finlayson serves as a social worker at a public charter high school. Her children attend the Salt Lake City School District, according to her campaign website.

The seat will be vacated by Board President Nate Salazar, who is instead vying for a spot on the Salt Lake County Council. Salazar has served on the school board since 2019.

Precinct 5 (covers parts of the Ballpark, Liberty Wells and 9th and 9th neighborhoods)

Incumbent Annie Romano takes on Sandra Buendia for the Precinct 5 seat.

The board appointed Romano in September 2025 after a bribery scandal led a former board member to resign. She currently works as a senior education coordinator with the University of Utah Health. Her children attend schools in the district.

Buendia has also been formally disciplined by state education officials.

In 2025, her professional license was suspended for two years after the state’s disciplinary commission determined she had “provided false testimony under oath during cross examination by opposing counsel and failed to correct the record when she found evidence that her testimony was incorrect,” state records show.

Buendia called the discipline “egregious and punitive,” and said the situation stemmed from an unintentional memory lapse that she described as a “brain fart.”

Buendia has 37 years of education experience, according to her campaign website. From 2014-2025, she served in various administrative roles with the Salt Lake City District. She most recently served as executive director of Educational Equity and Student Support.

Precinct 6 (includes the East Bench, Yalecrest and Wasatch Hollow areas, plus a slice of north Sugar House)

Incumbent Bryan Jensen squares off against newcomer Jennifer Smith.

Jensen has served on the board since 2022. He also spent 11 years teaching at Newman Elementary in Salt Lake City and has served in leadership roles with several state-level education organizations, according to his campaign website.

Smith is from Michigan and moved to Utah in 2010, her website states. Ever since, she said, she’s been an active participant in school board meetings and the district community.