6 candidates file to run for Ann Arbor school board in November election
This story has been updated to reflect correct information from the Washtenaw County elections division
The Ann Arbor school board election in November will not be anything like the 2010 election when three incumbents ran unopposed — 6 candidates have officially filed to run for 2 contested spots.
Incumbents Andy Thomas and Simone Lightfoot will be running for re-election in their first contested election. Thomas and Lightfoot were both elected for 1-year terms in November 2010 after being named to the school board in May 2010 and December 2009, respectively.
Challenging Thomas and Lightfoot will be Ahmar Iqbal, Lawrence Murphy, Patrick Leonard and Albert Howard, according to Aaron Dietz, deputy clerk at the Washtenaw County elections division.
The two contested terms on the school board will begin Jan. 1 and will see whoever is elected serve until Dec. 31, 2015.
The filing deadline is at 4 p.m. Tuesday. More candidates may be added to the list before that deadline.
The Ann Arbor school board will host a meeting for candidates at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Balas Administration Building, 2555 State St.
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Mark Quigley
Thu, Aug 18, 2011 : 12:01 p.m.
Will the new Trustees fight for financial restitution from the employees that stole from the district and the education of the children? <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/the-final-plan-for-the">http://www.annarbor.com/news/the-final-plan-for-the</a> <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/ineligible-dependents-cost-ann-arbor-schools-more-than-700000-in-2010">http://www.annarbor.com/news/ineligible-dependents-cost-ann-arbor-schools-more-than-700000-in-2010</a> <a href="http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/15198" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/15198</a> The Ann Arbor Public Schools paid $766,800 to carry 200 ineligible dependents on its health care plan in 2010, Michigan Capitol Confidential reported. The figure came from documents the school district provided in fulfilling a Freedom of Information Act request, the article said. The district immediately removed the ineligible dependents after they were discovered by a private contractor hired to review the district's dependent coverage, spokeswoman Liz Margolis said previously. The district paid the contractor $82,778 for the audit, Michigan Capitol Confidential, an editorial arm of the Midland-based Mackinac Center for Public Policy, reported today.
DonBee
Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 1:19 a.m.
Kyle - That's a couple of stories in the last couple of days, where meetings caused incomplete information. It is not like an hour or two will cause you to be scooped. Please take your time and get it right the first time.
Kyle Feldscher
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 6:07 p.m.
I called back with the Washtenaw County elections division and received correct information on the candidates for Ann Arbor school board. Kimberly Samuelson and Bradley Labadie have actually filed for the Lincoln Consolidated Schools Board of Education and Christine Fegan has filed for the Manchester Community Schools Board of Education, not the Ann Arbor Board of Education. When I called and originally asked for the Ann Arbor school board elections filing, I was told all of these candidates had filed in that election. I apologize and will have a complete list of candidates who have filed for school board elections around the county later today.
Kyle Feldscher
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
Cette and average joe- I had a meeting I had to get to at 1, I will be following up to answer your questions soon. Cette, we will be working on profiles of each candidate throughout the race, I will make sure to ask Mr. Murphy about his stance on special education.
cette
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 6:31 p.m.
Excellent.
average joe
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 5:39 p.m.
Kimberly Samuelson- Is this the same one that is currently on the Lincoln School Board?
cette
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 4:55 p.m.
Lawrence Murphy,is that the guy who thinks we should cut special ed service??? Please, let us know about these folks and where they stand on issues, broadly and very specifically. Inquiring minds want to know!!!!