Andy Godinez seeks NMUSD Area 7 school board seat

Andy Godinez, a City of Costa Mesa code enforcement officer, is running for the NMUSD Board of Education Area 7 seat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The nonpartisan race also includes Grace Dañino Hickok. According to his campaign website, Godinez grew up in the Shalimar neighborhood of Westside Costa Mesa and was the first in his family to attend college.

Candidate information

Residence: Lifelong Westside Costa Mesa resident (Shalimar neighborhood), according to his campaign website
Education: Newport Harbor High School diploma; Newport-Mesa Unified School District alumnus (Whittier Elementary, Ensign Intermediate, Newport Harbor High School), according to his campaign website
Recognition: Received the City Manager Leadership Award from Costa Mesa City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, according to the City of Costa Mesa

Experience and public service

Godinez has worked for the City of Costa Mesa for 18 years, according to his campaign website. He started as part-time parks and community services staff in an afterschool program in 2008. He later worked at the concierge desk and City Clerk's office before becoming a code enforcement officer, a role he has held since 2018, according to the City of Costa Mesa. His campaign website also lists experience as a district employee at Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Godinez's campaign website responses.

Dual immersion and language programs: Godinez said he supports keeping elementary communities together and expanding dual immersion programs for Pomona, Rea and Wilson schools. He also backs trilingual immersion for College Park and Adams for preschool and elementary students, and extending language pathways across the Estancia High School zone, including TeWinkle and Estancia.

Youth enrichment: Godinez said he supports free or low-cost after-school sports and student-chosen activities for seventh through 12th grades, along with tutors and mentors, to keep students engaged and developing skills.

School facilities: Godinez said facilities should be well maintained across the district. He supports opening playgrounds as parks with programming on weekends and breaks in partnership with the city. He identified building Estancia's football room as a key priority.

Educational equity: Godinez said he advocates for joint events and activities to connect Westside communities divided by 19th Street, and for equal access to high-quality education for every student regardless of background or zip code.

Gang prevention programs: At the Sept. 16, 2025, NMUSD Board meeting, Godinez made a public comment opposing the OC GRIP gang prevention program, characterizing it as a "school-to-prison pipeline" that would "normalize" law enforcement in schools, according to The Parent Empowerment Newsletter. He said the program would criminalize students of color and students with disabilities in a disparate manner.