Incumbents prevail in area school board races

All incumbents running for re-election in Pikes Peak area won  re-election late Tuesday — except for James Tyler of Hanover School District 28.

But Tyler said he was glad for the competition in a district that has often had trouble finding candidates.

 “I’m excited that we actually had an election in this district,” said James Tyler. “We have not had that much interest in the past. Both Mark McPherson and Rik Noring will provide the (Hanover School) district with good leadership.”

Seven area school districts canceled elections because there were no contested races. Int he other nine rasces incumbants prevailed.

Here’s how the votes stacked up in area districts:

ACADEMY SCHOOL DISTRICT 20

Incumbent Doug Lundberg, a retired teacher, kept his seat. Nine candidates were vying for three spots.

He had 8,930 votes. Incumbent Linda Van Matre, an aquatics fitness instructor, ran second with 8,051 votes, and newcomer Catherine Bullock, a certified public accountant, was third with 7,537. 

The other six candidates, James Jenista, Tracey Johnson, Terry Kunkel, Fran Reichert, Dan Reifschneider and Mark Smith, split the rest of the votes.

Bullock attributed her strong showing to her accounting background, along with the fact that she’s a mom and more conservative than some of her opponents.

“I’m honored and excited,” she said, adding that she expects to be “like a deer in the headlights” at her first board meeting.

CALHAN SCHOOL DISTRICT RJ1

Scott Mikita  took top spot with  368 votes, to win one of the three open seats. Rachel Britton and Maria Herndon won with 281 and 225 votes, respectively.

Mikita, a Calhan dairy owner, said his first task will be to “get educated about the issues. Finances are the big one. I am really excited to jump in and get started.”

Mikita said he ran for the board because he has two sons starting school and believes that  “you can’t complain unless you are willing to step up to the plate and be on the board.”

The other candidates were Dan Crook, Nile Fischer and Tim (Joe) Swanson.

COLORADO SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT 11

Incumbent Sandra Mann garnered the most votes with 343,202 votes, followed by  LuAnn Long, with 24,505 votes, and Al Loma third with 21,451.

District voters were choosing three board member from among five candidates.  Bringing up the rear were Chyrese Exline and Delia Armstrong Busby.

“I’m appreciative that people recognized that I did a good job over the last four years and they feel comfortable sending me back,” Mann said.

Loma said he was “pleasantly surprised” with his strong showing and hopes to bring a different perspective to the board. He attributed his success to the fact that he’s not a politician and has worked with people from all walks of life.

ELLICOTT SCHOOL DISTRICT 22

Former board member Gary Lake, returning to the board, joining newcomers Bea Twiss and Stefanie Dickinson in a crowded race that included six other candidates.

Lake, who had been prevented by term limits from being re-elected in a previous stint on the board, ran on a platform of “keeping some things the same.”

“We have a wonderful group of students and parents,” Lake said. “While we have some financial and growth issues, I know Bea Twiss and Stefanie Dickinson well. They are excellent women who will make great board members. Both are very conservative, but it is good to have that view on the board when we need to tighten our belts and concentrate on kids.”

FALCON SCHOOL DISTRICT 49

Danielle Lindorf won a spot on the board, pulling in 5,434 votes well ahead of  the six other candidates running for three four-year terms in a contentious race. Christopher Wright was second with 4,412.
Tammy Harold squeeked by Donahue Quashie by 42 votes or 4,027 votes to 3,985. A recount is expected.

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON SCHOOL DISTRICT 8

Incumbents Dawn Bentley and Suzanne Foster garnered 1,193 and 1289 votes respectively to best  challenger Dale Rough III, w ho had 752.

HANOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT 28

Rik Noring  unseated incumbent James Tyler in the race for a two-year term. The tallies were 129 for Noring, and 89 for Tyler.

Mark McPherson, director of human resources for Falcon School District 49, received 183 votes and incumbent Tom Humiston, a Colorado Springs Utilities drilling crew foreman had 129 votes. The third candidate David Sloan, garnered 50 votes of of the vote as a write-in candidate.

HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2

The incumbent slate of three reformers won handily.  School board president Deborah Hendrix, Linda Pugh and Rick Price overcame two challengers, including a former board member. Their toals were 3,912;4,793;and 3,804 respectiely.

They said they would continue on the fourth year of a five-year plan to turn around the district, where 80 percent of the 11,000 students are poor. They are creating or looking at innovative programs such as pay for performance, 21st Century learning that prepares students in critical thinking skills and a unique charter school to prepare at-risk kids college.

“The community has spoken,” said Hendrix. “They are saying that what we are doing are good things and we are excited about that and plan to keep that going.”

LEWIS-PALMER SCHOOL DISTRICT 38
Incumbent Gail Wilson easily  won election to a two year term in race against challenger David Cloud. Wilson had 2,156 votes to Cloud’s 1,652. Three other candidates were unopposed.

WOODLAND PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT RE2
Incumbent Rick Wetzel easily won over challenger Mark Rodholm in the only contested race.

District voters also overwhelming approved a new districting plan that will convert two of the five district seats to at-large seats.