The first day I met Mal Sandie, I knew I liked him. Mal is friendly, warm, and curious about others. He has a no-nonsense way of talking and being in the world that lets you know he doesn’t play games: what you see is what you get. He is slow to talk about himself and much more eager to hear what others have to say. As a Coronado resident and frequent volunteer at our schools, I have seen his passion for students, families, and Coronado firsthand.
Mal is a retired naval helicopter pilot who served for 30 years, so he knows the needs of military families and military-connected students. He and his wife have four sons, all of whom attended Coronado schools, and their youngest will graduate from Coronado High with the class of 2027. Mal has a personal stake in how our schools perform.
Mal is also the only Coronado candidate this election cycle for City Council or the CUSD School Board who accepts no donations. He is self-funded because he does not want to be beholden to donors. He answers to voters, not donors.
In his current term, Mal has delivered results. He helped design the new cell phone policy at Coronado Middle, which Principal Falar recently called “a big success.” He assisted in developing the district’s Portrait of a Graduate, a community-built vision of the skills and character our students need to succeed. And, he supported and voted for the district’s upcoming transition to Basic Aid funding, which lets the district keep local property tax revenue above the state formula. This change is expected to add $8 to $10 million to our budget next year and beyond.
Recently, I helped a few Coronado High students hold a voter registration drive on campus. Mal showed up to thank them for their work and stayed throughout to lend his support. He is not there for the photo op. He stays to do the work.
Like me, Mal believes strong public schools are foundational to our democracy. He deserves the chance to build on the work he has started. He is running again to keep the Portrait of a Graduate at the center of what our schools do and to make sure Basic Aid funding goes toward attracting and retaining high-quality staff and updating our facilities. Please vote to re-elect Mal Sandie to the CUSD School Board. It is a win for students, a win for families, and a win for Coronado.
VOL. 116, NO. 41 – Oct. 14, 2026