School board candidates finalized; 5 districts cancel elections
The paperwork to become a school board candidate was certified this week, and five districts canceled their elections because they had just enough – or too few — candidates to fill the open seats, and no registered write-in candidates.
But in the other 12 districts in the Pikes Peak region, 60 people will vie for 30 school board seats in the Nov. 3 election. Nineteen others will automatically get spots on the boards in the districts where there was no opposition.
In Miami-Yoder School District JT 60, the board will have to go looking for someone to fill one seat because only two candidates came forward for three open terms.
The hottest races will be in Academy School District 20 and Ellicott School District 22. Both districts have nine candidates running for three seats.
Here’s a district-by-district list of who’s running:
ACADEMY SCHOOL DISTRICT 20
Nine candidates for three four-year terms: Catherine Bullock, James Jenista, Tracey Johnson, Terry Kunkel, Doug Lundberg (incumbent), Fran Reichert, Dan Reifschneider, Mark Smith and Linda Van Matre (incumbent).
Board President Ann Elrod was not eligible to run for re-election.
CALHAN SCHOOL DISTRICT RJ1
Six candidates for three four-year terms: Rachel Britton, Dan Crook, Nile Fischer, Maria Herndon, Scott Mikita and Timothy Swanson.
Incumbents Jim Woolsey, Lori Imhof and Teresa O’Lear are not seeking re-election.
COLORADO SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT 11
Five candidates for three four-year terms: Delia Armstrong-Busby, Chyrese Exline, Albert Loma, LuAnn Long and Sandra Mann (incumbent).
Incumbents John Gudvangen and Tami Hasling are not seeking re-election.
EDISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 54 JT
Four candidates for three four-year terms: James Burke (incumbent), Dana Choate, Tommie Choate III and Cheryl McComb.
Incumbents Jeanine Meinzer and Lori Whittemore are not seeking re-election.
ELLICOTT SCHOOL DISTRICT 22
Nine candidates for three four-year terms: Jennifer Ades, MaryAnna Clemons, Gary Dahn, Stefanie Dickinson, Sherry Ann Ferriman, Gary Lake, Robert N. Miller, Katrina Sutton and Beatrice Mae Twiss.
Incumbents Marcia Mangan, Yvonne Johnson and David Zettlemoyer are not seeking re-election.
FALCON SCHOOL DISTRICT 49
Seven candidates for three four-year terms: Tammy Harold, John Koster, Danielle Lindorf, Donahue C. Quashie, Jon B. Rowley, Jackie Vialpando and Christopher Wright.Incumbents Anna Bartha, Mark Shook and Dave Stark are not seeking re-election.
FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON SCHOOL DISTRICT 8
Three candidates for two four-year terms: Dawn Bentley (incumbent), Suzanne Foster (incumbent) and Dale M. Rough III.
HANOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT 28
Three candidates for two four-year terms: Thomas Humiston (incumbent), Mark McPherson and David Sloan (write in candidate).
Two candidates for one two-year term: Rik Noring Jr. and James Tyler (incumbent).
Incumbent Roy Dalton is not seeking re-election.
HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2
Five candidates for three four-year terms: Deborah Hendrix (incumbent), Steve Hester, Rick Price (incumbent), Linda Pugh (incumbent) and Ed Ralston.
LEWIS-PALMER SCHOOL DISTRICT 38
Two candidates for a two-year term in District 3: Gail Wilson (incumbent) and David Cloud.
Three candidates are running unopposed: Mark Pfoff (District 4 incumbent), Robb Pike (District 5 incumbent) and Jeff Ferguson (District 1).
Incumbent Dee Dee Eaton is not seeking re-election.
MANITOU SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT 14
Three candidates for two four-year terms: Gino Mendoza, Molly Stevens and Marsha Weimer.
Incumbent Larry Rice was not eligible to run, and incumbent Lori Finn is not seeking re-election.
WOODLAND PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT RE2
Two candidates for a four-year term in District B: Rick Wetzel (incumbent) and Mark Rodholm.
Candidates running unopposed: Amy Nieman (District D incumbent) and write-in candidate Bill Blackburn (District E incumbent).
NO ELECTION
Here’s who will take board seats in the five districts with no elections:
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT 12
Two four-year terms: Phil DeVries (incumbent) and Steve Parker.
Incumbent Steve Mulliken was not eligible for re-election.
CRIPPLE CREEK-VICTOR SCHOOL DISTRICT RE1
Three four-year terms: James “Brent” Kennedy (District D incumbent), Karen Casey-Svetich (District E incumbent) and Claudia Alonzo, District B.
District B incumbent Timothy Braun is not seeking re-election.
MIAMI-YODER SCHOOL DISTRICT JT60
Only two candidates came forward for three four-year terms: Eric Pfiefer and Jim Day (incumbent). The board will seek applicants to appoint someone to the third vacancy.
Incumbent Connie Phipps was not eligible for re-election and incumbent Jeff Barnett is not seeking re-election.
PEYTON SCHOOL DISTRICT 23JT
Three candidates, all incumbents, for three four-year terms: Peter Bates, J.R. Bond and William Nevills.
One candidate for a two-year term: Nicholas Gomes.
Incumbent Mark Schultz is not seeking re-election.
WIDEFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT 3
Three candidates for three four-year terms: Andre Gutierrez (incumbent), Theresa Watson and Charron Schoeberger.
Incumbents Martin Kuhn and Sue Mitchell were not eligible for re-election.
