# Candidate Forums - Kern County Board of Education Area 7 - 10/13/2026


**Body:** City of Ridgecrest
**Date:** October 12, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Education


The candidate forum for Kern County Board of Education Area 7 was held in Ridgecrest on October 13, 2026, and featured incumbent Lori Cisneros and candidate Ernie Bell; a third candidate, Janine Adams, was unable to attend. The candidates discussed the county board’s responsibilities, local control, student expulsion appeals, teacher shortages, attendance, student safety, and the needs of East Kern schools. Bell emphasized advocacy and support for local districts, including expanded special-education services; Cisneros discussed parent advocacy, transparency, and the board’s role in charter petitions and alternative education. No meeting votes, contract awards, or procurement actions were identified. Cisneros noted that a central-kitchen expansion had been approved in the budget, increasing service capacity from about 1,000 to 7,000 students, but no dollar amount or purchasing details were provided.

**Source:** City of Ridgecrest