By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (Nov 5, 2025)
El Dorado Hills — Gary Kinghorn, a former El Dorado County Grand Jury foreperson, won the Nov. 4, 2025 special election to fill a vacancy on the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors, defeating Wayne A. Lowery by a wide margin. Kinghorn earned 9,438 votes (61.53%) to Lowery’s 5,900 votes (38.47%) in a contest that reported 25 of 25 precincts for the district.
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District provides a range of community services and infrastructure oversight in a growing suburban area of El Dorado County. The seat filled in this special election was open following an earlier vacancy; voters were choosing a director to serve the remainder of that term. Local issues that dominated the campaign period included district governance and accountability after recent scrutiny of district operations, the oversight of public finances and contracts, and service delivery to residents across the district.
Kinghorn’s public profile prior to the election included service as foreperson of the El Dorado County Civil Grand Jury, a role he cited in campaign materials as a motivating factor in his decision to run.
“I’m excited to announce that I’ve decided to run for the vacant board seat for the El Dorado Hills Community Services District,”
Kinghorn wrote in a public campaign announcement.
Reactions
Supporters of Kinghorn pointed to his Grand Jury background and his stated commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency. Opponents raised concerns about long-term policy choices and representation for different parts of the district; those conversations are likely to continue as Kinghorn assumes his duties on the board. Local residents and civic groups may press the new director for updates on the district’s financial audits, contract reviews and community outreach plans in the coming weeks.
Why this matters to El Dorado County residents
The EDH CSD board makes decisions that affect local parks, community services and certain infrastructure and special district finances used by thousands of property owners and residents. Board composition can influence how the district prioritizes projects, manages budgets and engages with residents. With Kinghorn taking the seat, residents should expect an early focus on oversight and review of prior Grand Jury findings referenced frequently during the campaign.
