CdA School Board races: Hamilton won’t run again, Seymour will
Coeur d’Alene School Board Trustee Tom Hamilton said today he will not seek re-election. But Trustee Terri Seymour said she will seek a second term on the board.
“God has a plan for me but it does not involve further service in political office,” Hamilton said in remarks delivered at a meeting of the Reagan Republicans.
Casey Morrisroe of Hayden has filed to run for the seat, representing Zone 2. He owns Specialty Recreation & Marine in Coeur d’Alene and serves as vice chairman of the district’s long range planning committee and on the Sting Premier Soccer Club board of directors.
Hamilton was among a group of conservative residents who took control of the school board in 2011 and 2012 and made the controversial decision to eliminate the Primary Years Programme at Hayden Meadows Elementary School and the affiliated International Baccalaureate program at Lake City High School.
In 2013 the board’s makeup shifted back toward the middle politically, with Hamilton and Seymour representing more conservative views.
Seymour said today she will run for re-election to her Zone 3 seat. The filing deadline is Friday at 5 p.m.
Hamilton said he is most proud of his time as board chairman.
The school board rewrote policy that had been modified to limit parental input, he said. In addition, “We challenged the district to look at out-sourcing of ‘non-classroom’ items such as custodial work and transportation as a means of saving money. We held Community Chats to open the door to constituents and allow them free and unfettered access to their elected officials to make sure their voice was heard, even those who did not agree with what we were doing,” he said.
He also spoke of the district’s success in passing a $33 million bond measure to update, upgrade and replace some of the oldest buildings; launching an anti-bully task force; and bringing in the Core Knowledge Program to return to a more “classic education.”
“I have much to be proud of and very little that I regret,” Hamilton said.
He also spoke of harsh criticism and personal attacks he said he endured over his views.
“For my service to our community, I have been labeled ignorant, homophobic, racist, a pitchfork-wielding barbarian, radical and a moron,” he said. “My family has watched me be attacked and have endured attacks of their own all because I dared to step up and serve. I have seen the ugliest our community has to offer and for what offense? For daring to speak an opinion contrary to their own and willingness to act upon my convictions.”