Saghezchi, Waterfield top Strawberry Rec race; Teese leads for third seat

Incumbents Sohrab Saghezchi and Sarah Waterfield will win two of the three four-year seats on the Strawberry Recreation District board, and board Chair Peter Teese led challenger David Morgenthaler for the third in early Nov. 3 returns.

Saghezchi had votes on 44.8% of ballots counted, Waterfield on 44.4%, Teese on 39% and Morgenthaler on 31.2% in returns the Marin County Elections Department posted at 8:25 p.m. Nov. 3, when 59,846 ballots had been counted countywide, about 34% of Marin’s 173,804 registered voters.

Waterfield did not publicly campaign or sit for an interview, and she has not said whether she would take the seat.

Complete coverage: thearknewspaper.com/election2026

Live results: thearknewspaper.com/election2026/results

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Voters could choose up to three candidates, so the shares add to more than 100%. The results are unofficial. Mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day could arrive as late as Nov. 10 and still be counted, and Marin County has until Dec. 3 to certify the results.

In a separate race for the board’s one two-year seat, appointed incumbent Doug Twillman will win, with 68.3% of the vote to challenger Aliza Hawkins’ 31.7%.

The races marked a rare competitive election for a district that has long struggled to find residents willing to serve on its board.

Teese, a board member since December 2010, sought a fifth term. Saghezchi, a Mill Valley dentist whom county supervisors appointed in December 2022 after no one filed for the seat, sought election to it for the first time. Waterfield joined the board in December 2024 after running uncontested for a shortened two-year term.

Morgenthaler, a sales professional and musician, campaigned on expanding programs for teenagers and adding offerings such as foreign-language and music classes. Saghezchi emphasized transparency, fiscal responsibility and community involvement, while Teese said his top priority was completing the district’s planned playground.

The incoming board will oversee a district serving about 6,000 residents in unincorporated Strawberry, with year-round recreation programs, classes, memberships and events.

Among its major projects is a playground planned for the grass between the tennis courts and baseball fields at Strawberry Park. The contractor, GameTime, trimmed the design to about $2.55 million in October, restroom included, and the board plans a final vote Nov. 10.

The playground is expected to open in 2027.

Reach Belvedere, Strawberry and public-safety reporter Tyler Callister at 415-944-4627.