Fair Oaks Parks Board: Carhart and Irwin Lead Two Seats, Lavalle Ahead for Short Term

FAIR OAKS, California — November 4, 2026. Two different board elections were on the ballot for the Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District. In the preliminary Sacramento County tally, Ralph Carhart and Raymond Irwin lead the two-seat contest, while Manuel Lavalle leads a separate short-term election.

Two regular director seats

The November 4, 1:25 a.m. report shows Ralph L. Carhart — 4,905 votes (43.77%); Raymond James Irwin — 4,688 (41.83%); and Cameron D. Vault — 1,614 (14.40%). The voters were selecting two directors, meaning the two highest reported vote-getters are provisionally in position for the seats.

One short-term director seat

In the separate contest for a short-term board position, Manuel Lavalle received 3,816 votes (63.03%) and Vicki Walter received 2,238 (36.97%). The reported difference is 1,578 votes. These ballots cannot be added to the totals of the two-seat race to determine board representation.

What the board oversees

The recreation and park district is a local special district, separate from an incorporated city council. Board members are responsible for governance decisions that may include local parks, facilities, recreation activities and district budgets.

The report shows 9,490 voters casting ballots out of 24,685 registered voters in the election area. These figures are semi-final and will be subject to remaining ballot processing and certification. Sacramento County’s next update is scheduled for November 6 by 4:15 p.m. PT.

Primary source: Sacramento County Registrar of Voters, 2026 Statewide General Election Summary, page 20.

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