FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The race for Fresno County Superintendent of Schools is gaining momentum as prominent local leaders publicly declare their endorsements.
Dr. Eimear O'Brien, a former Clovis Unified superintendent, hosted a campaign event Wednesday as she seeks to lead the county office overseeing 32 school districts, including Fresno Unified, the state's third-largest district.
O'Brien came out of an 18-month retirement earlier this year to serve as interim superintendent of Central Unified. She previously led Clovis Unified from 2017 to 2023 and spent decades in education.
Several notable figures attended her event, including former county superintendents Jim Yovino and Larry Powell.
"I think it says a lot when two former superintendents support a candidate," Powell said. "We know her. We've seen her operate. We've seen how she's worked with small districts."
O'Brien highlighted those relationships as a cornerstone of her campaign.
"I've always enjoyed a very positive relationship with all of these elected officials," she said. "We've worked together on numerous projects. We've stayed connected when we need to solve problems together."
Yovino's endorsement of O'Brien is drawing attention because he supported incumbent Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher in 2022. Cantwell-Copher responded to the shift Wednesday.
"It is very curious that for 25 years, Jim Yovino and I had a good working relationship, and in fact, I supported him through all of his years of leadership," Cantwell-Copher said. "In the last three years, that's definitely changed with regard to his support of me, and I am as curious as the public is."
Cantwell-Copher, who has served as county superintendent since 2022, has secured endorsements from Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni and Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her. She emphasized her experience and continuity in the role.
"I am your incumbent, and I have cast the vision," she said. "I've been doing the job very successfully for the last three years. I have respectfully engaged folks, and we have a very strong sense of exactly what our schools need and our students need."
O'Brien and Cantwell-Copher will face off in the June 2026 primary election.