10 compete to fill 2 Richmond Community Schools board at-large seats
RICHMOND, Ind. — A late rush of candidates created a crowded race for two Richmond school board positions.
Ten candidates, including nine who filed during the last three days of the month-long filing period, will contest the two at-large Board of School Trustees seats up for election Nov. 8. After entering the final filing week with only one candidate having entered the non-partisan race, two candidates filed Wednesday, four Thursday and three Friday before the noon deadline.
One incumbent, Keith Morey, is not pursuing re-election.
The 10 candidates, in alphabetical order, are:
Sayward Carolin-Salazar;
Bruce Laudermilk;
Beth Lipps;
Stacy E. Mopps;
Jeff Slifer
Windel Stracener;
Ronnie Swango;
Sam Thomas;
Matthew Yellen; and
Pete Zaleski.
Incumbent Kristen Brunton is the only candidate to file in District 3, the other Richmond Community Schools board position up for election this year. Brunton began representing District 3 during June 2021 after board members selected her to replace Suzanne Derengowski, who resigned after moving from the school district. District 3 includes the city's southwest portion.
In the Centerville-Abington district, Lora Cruse and Tiffany Torbeck join incumbent Brad Lambright in a three-way race for Lambright's at-large seat. The other at-large position will be contested in 2024.
Dale A. Delay is the only candidate for Centerville-Abington's District B, which represents Center Township. Susan Hamilton has served five terms representing that district.
For Northeastern Wayne, Nicholas Clevenger will retain his District A seat representing Green Township; however, five candidates are vying to replace Alice Johnson, who did not file, in the district's lone at-large seat. Those five are: Mark Broeker, Kim Claypoole, Cindy Robertson, Jim Summers and Dan VanDuyne.
Incumbent Phillip Pflum is being challenged by Amber Rushton for the Western Wayne board's at-large seat being contested this year. William B. Fortman will become Western Wayne's District C representative, because he is the only candidate for that seat, which is currently filled by Dennis Feller.
Incumbents Marcie Houghton and Shaun Lieberman will keep their Nettle Creek at-large board seats, and incumbent Cody Sankey will continue representing Nettle Creek's District 3. No other candidates filed for either race.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: 10 compete to fill 2 Richmond Community Schools board at-large seats