Valley School Board Incumbents Intend To Run Again

Eight school board positions across the Valley are up for election this fall.

Challengers for those positions have about three weeks to decide if they want to run.

The filing period for school board candidates is July 28-Aug. 1. All the incumbents in the Central Valley, East Valley and West Valley school districts say they’ll run for re-election.

“It’s kind of unusual that you would have that many board members coming back,” said West Valley Schools Superintendent Dave Smith. “But the Valley’s pretty stable that way.”

Smith pointed out that a number of citizens in West Valley are deeply involved in the district without serving as trustees.

“It’s not like you have to be on the board to be a major player.”

One East Valley trustee is hedging a bit on her plans. Karen Cecil, who is finishing her third term, said she’ll run if she can rearrange her travel schedule.

Cecil made airline reservations for San Diego that would take her out of town for the entire filing period.

She bought her tickets to attend her brother’s retirement party, without realizing the conflict.

“Put it this way, if the airlines will work with me, I’m running,” Cecil said.

Actually, it won’t be that difficult.

In such instances, the Spokane County Elections Office accepts filing papers by mail. “Or even brought in by a friend,” said Noel Elliott.

The following board trustees are up for election:

Central Valley: Gary Hann, chairman, has served two terms. Craig Holmes, one term. East Valley: June Sine, chairman, two terms. Cecil, three terms. Karl Wilkinson, three terms. West Valley: Jim Williams, chairman, four terms. Pete Schweda, three terms. Bill Zimmer, three terms.

, DataTimes