|
Wednesday's Internet Edition, October 08, 2008.
Five to vie for elementary board
Roberts does not file for GHS – filing period extended
By Rachael Ackerman
-
By Rachael Ackerman
Herald Editor
Well, it’s almost a lock on who will run for seats in both of Galt’s school districts and in three outlying races, but, with several incumbents choosing not to seek re-election, the doors are still open in three races.
Always a heated contest, the race for two open four-year seats for the Galt Joint Union High School Board has gotten more interesting, as incumbent Sue Roberts has decided, after two terms on the board, not to seek re-election. As a result, the filing period for that race has been extended until 5 p.m. today, Aug. 13.
In the meantime, the race is ready to run, thus far, with four candidates each seeking one of two open seats. Incumbent since 2004 Norman Pearson, a certified public accountant, will seek re-election. He will be challenged by former GHS vice principal Diann Kitamura, who is currently an educational executive director, and former city council candidate Kathleen Amos, a family law attorney. Newcomer to the political scene Constance Goethel, who calls herself a community volunteer, will also be vying for a seat on the GHS board. Goethel joins husband Fred Goethel, a Galt City Council candidate, in the 2008 campaign season.
Putting a unique twist on the 2008 campaign cycle, the GJUHSD will conduct a second race, this one for a two-year seat to finish the unexpired term left vacant by the 2006 resignation of board member Pat Maple. At the time of his resignation, incumbent Robert “Gus” Prouty was appointed by the board to fill the vacancy until the general election of 2008, which would leave two years of the term to fill.
Prouty has filed to stay in the seat for the remainder of the term. He will not go unchallenged, however.
Former Galt High School Board member Dennis Richardson, a retired criminal investigator for the state, has filed to re-enter the political world and go after the two-year seat vacated by Maple.
Generally a quiet race, the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District will see five candidates run for two open seats after major changes in the district caused a community reaction earlier in the year.
Incumbents Erv Hatzenbuhler, who has served four consecutive terms on the board, and incumbent Susan Richardson, on the board since 2000, have both filed to keep their seats. Hatzenbuhler is a longtime Galt resident and retired Galt High School football coach. Richardson is an active community volunteer and mother of 10.
The pair will be joined in the race by a rich field of competitors, including former Marengo Ranch and then McCaffrey Middle School PTA president Tamara Anstess, who is a trade show manager; transit manager Doug Vanderkar; and school facility analyst John Gordon, who will round out the race for the elementary school board in 2008.
In the outlying school districts, two filing periods have been extended and one race is all but over.
It’s a done deal in the Oak View Union Elementary School Board race as only the two incumbents, Stanley Siefert and Greg Rausser, who ran unopposed in 2004 as well, have filed to keep their seats in that two-seat race. As a result, there will be no election conducted in Oak View, Galt’s feeder school located in Acampo, and the two incumbents will remain on that board.
It’s finally a race out at Arcohe Union Elementary School, Galt’s feeder school located in Herald, with three candidates filing so far. Incumbents Lyman Harms and William Berg have not filed to seek re-election, causing the filing period for this race to be extended to 5 p.m. today, Aug. 13.
So far, James Knezovich, Michelle Neider and William Smith have signed on to fight for seats in this two-seat race.
And, out in Thornton at Galt’s feeder school Thornton Elementary School, one incumbent, Jose Luis Torres, has filed to keep his seat for another four years. Incumbent Jim Allan has not filed, causing the filing period for that race to be extended until Aug. 13 at 5 p.m., as well.
|
|
