Competition Seems To Be Scarce For Valley School Board Posts
Two of Central Valley School District’s school board members received a vote of confidence last week. Or is it apathy?
No challengers filed to run against board members Gary Hann and Craig Holmes.
“I don’t really have a particular insight into why people haven’t run for the school board position. I think this is the third time I’ve been up for election and I’ve never had any opposition to my candidacy,” said Hann, chairman of the board. “I just think there’s a sense in Liberty Lake that we’re being well represented.”
Hann’s board district includes Liberty Lake. All school board members are elected by geographic director districts, in which the candidates must reside. The filing period for candidates in Spokane County was last week.
In East Valley, only school board member Karen Cecil is being challenged.
Sandra Thompson, a parent of four children, is one challenger. Thompson, 36, has lived 12 years in the district; several years ago she served as PTA president and vice president at Skyview Elementary.
Sue Wentz, a real estate agent with Windermere, has five children who have gone to East Valley schools. Wentz’ youngest child will graduate from East Valley High School this year. She has lived 20 years in the district.
Board members June Sine and Karl Wilkinson are unopposed.
In West Valley School District, board member Peter Schweda will run against challenger Robert Estey.
Estey, 67, is a retired elementary school principal from Spokane’s District 81 and a former textbook salesman.
“Let me make it clear, I don’t have anything against Mr. Schweda. It’s only that somebody needs to get started on changing some of those faces,” Estey said.
West Valley’s school board members all have served at least eight years. On that board, chairman Jim Williams and Bill Zimmer are unopposed.
In Liberty School District, incumbent Michael Connelly is unopposed. Linda Booth-Deford is unopposed for the seat previously held by Ione Felgenhauer. Michael Dodson and Marie Tellessen are challengers for the seat previously held by Brad Konshuk.
Incumbent George Engle will run against challenger Roberta Winn Mackay.
In Freeman School District, incumbents Joseph Dahmen and David Koch are unopposed.
, DataTimes