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Nicolas Yendrzeski, a 2024 Maricopa High School graduate, has narrowly won a seat on the Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board.
Yendrzeski won by just 34 votes — he earned 9,785 in total, or 20.62% — to Shawnte’ Rothschild’s 9,751 votes, or 20.55%, qualifying him for one of three open board seats.
That’s out of 47,461 votes cast districtwide.
The Alterra resident is believed to be the youngest school board member in MUSD history.
With 100% of the MUSD voting precincts counted late Wednesday night at the Pinal County Elections Office, Yendrzeski held on to his squeaky-close lead. He had trailed by 20 votes on election night.
Attempts to contact Rothschild this morning were unsuccessful.
School board appointee Carolyn Lopez claimed the highest number of votes to maintain her seat, 14,787, or 31%. Ben Owens, a former school board member, won a return to the board with 12,721 votes, or 27%.
Yendrzeski, an 18-year-old MHS computer security whiz who is now attending Arizona State University as a political science major, passed up the next closest candidate, Rothschild, overnight Wednesday.
Yendrzeski graduated from MHS in May and has said he wants to be an advocate for students, urging his fellow board members to listen to their needs. He was captain of the MHS Warriors of the Net team that clinched the state championship at the U.S. Air Force CyberPatriot Competition in January.
He co-hosted a student podcast, The Controversy, hopping on the microphone weekly to discuss all things education and high school student experiences. At an InMaricopa candidate debate Sept. 26, he was considered the strongest speaker by a majority of more than two dozen voters interviewed post-debate.
After indicating she would attend, Rothschild was the only candidate to skirt that debate, the lone opportunity for school board candidates this year to make their pleas to voters — hundreds of undecided voters watched the broadcast — a likely tipping point toward her 34-vote loss and a somber message to future Maricopa candidates about how they campaign or whether they do at all.
“The journey has been an incredible experience, and I am truly grateful for everyone who has stood by me,” Rothschild told InMaricopa this afternoon. “There is no bad outcome here, as I know each candidate is dedicated to advocating for our schools, students and educators. Regardless of the final results, my commitment to our community remains steadfast.”
Yendrzeski this morning told InMaricopa he was happy with his historic and first political win, describing the feeling as surreal.
“I’m just truly grateful for the support of the community that was shown,” he said, adding he wouldn’t declare his victory until all the votes were canvassed.
He said he looked forward to training as a board member and moving into the leadership role.
“I will reach out again with the community leaders I spoke to during his campaign,” he said.
“Communication, that’s the big part.”
