Incumbent Sine leading District 3 school race

Preliminary results from Tuesday’s primary show Guy Gifford and incumbent June Sine as the leading candidates for the District 3 seat on the East Valley School Board.

Sine received about 55 percent of the votes and Gifford received about 26 percent as of Tuesday night, not including the last of the absentee ballots.

A board member for 14 years, Sine, 53, said she hasn’t faced opposition for the position since her first run.

“It gives me an appreciation for people who run for office,” she said.

Gifford, 39, a forester for the Department of Natural Resources and political newcomer, said he can offer a young-family perspective to the board.

“I have three kids in elementary school and a fourth entering,” he said.

Todd Glore received about 19 percent of the vote.

Board positions in three of the five East Valley districts are up for election this November.

Roger Trainor will challenge sitting board member Wayne Stewart for the District 5 seat.

Kerri Lunstroth will fill the District 4 seat held by Sue Wentz, who is not seeking re-election. Lunstroth is the only candidate who ran for that seat.

One of the last tasks the present board will face is the selection of a superintendent.

It decided recently to begin the search this fall – placing the decision on the new superintendent in the hands of the present board since the new members take office after the first of the year.

Board members said they chose the fall to pick a superintendent so the new board can focus on a maintenance and operations levy in the spring.

In the three-way race for the St. John School Board District 1 seat, Scott Hollingsworth and Randy Paul will advance to the general election.

As of Tuesday night, Hollingsworth received 53 percent of the vote and Paul received 31 percent. In the general election Bryan Bezdicek will run against Frank Watson for the District 2 seat and Erik Logen will run against Andrea Miller for director at large.