Meet the Sauk Rapids-Rice school board candidates

Six people are running for three schoolboard seats for the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District. The candidates are Lisa J. Braun, Warren Christie, Robyn L. Holthaus, Dan Johnson, Lisa Loidolt and Annie Newville. Braun, Holthaus and Loidolt are incumbents.

Lisa J. Braun

Braun, 59, grew up in Central Minnesota and moved to Sauk Rapids in 1990. She is currently retired after spending 34 years with the City of St. Cloud Aging Services Department and she is also retired from the Senior Volunteer Program.

When asked why she is running, she said, “I do not have any particular issue other than to move forward with the newly created strategic plan and Portrait of a Graduate goals which will prepare our students to be successful in the 21st century… I am passionate about bringing more families and students into our district. Sauk Rapids-Rice School District has a strong collaborative relationship with the cities of Sauk Rapids and Rice. ”

When asked how she will make it to the top three, she said, “I want people to vote for me because they know from past experience that I serve with integrity and that I believe in doing the best for my community. ”

Warren Christie

Christie, 65, said he grew up in Sauk Rapids and attended SCSU as well as Southwest Minnesota State University and St. Mary’s University. He is a retired teacher.

In an email, he told the Times, “The only 'agenda' that I have is doing what is best for students." One of his focuses as a schoolboard member, if elected, would be to analyze the budget and “doing a cost/benefit analysis of every dollar spent. We need to be getting the most out of each dollar and eliminate spending that has little or no benefit.”

When asked how he plans to win a seat between now and election night, he said, “I plan on meeting and talking to as many voters as possible between now and election day. By being honest with voters, I believe that they will see that I can be of service to the community by helping all students in the district. It is my hope that in the end, it is ultimately the students that win.”

Robyn L. Holthaus

Holthaus, 59, is the Senior Vice President and COO at BankVista and a “lifelong Sauk-Rapids resident.”

She said she is seeking re-election to continue “to do the work that we do as a board of education to ensure that the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district continues to be a destination district… I have great respect for our existing board. We collaborate, challenge our thought processes, trust each other, trust the team of educators and above all else are passionate about public education.”

Holthaus said she plans to win by “reaching out to the community and making myself available to respond to their questions. I want our community to know that I hear them and that their voice is important.”

Dan Johnson

Johnson, 42, has lived in Minnesota his whole life and moved to Sauk-Rapids in 2006. He said he has a career in logistics and sales while having some involvement with several organizations over the last decade including Sauk Rapids Lions Club, the Republican Party and others.

When Johnson was asked why he is running, he responded, “over the last two years, as students shuffled between learning models and mask mandates, I realized I needed to have a voice at the board table. In Sauk Rapids-Rice, five of our seven current school board members will have served for 16-plus years at the beginning of 2023. I bring a fresh perspective and a hunger for results.”

When asked what some of his top issues are for running, some of his responses included, "political activism free classrooms,” and to increase educational expectations, increase transparency and trust with the community and to make sure referendums are used as a last option.

When asked how he plans to win, Johnson said, “I knock doors of people who disagree with my opinions because a leader must hear their opinion as well. By talking with people at their doors, I am leading by example so other board members see the importance of seeking feedback. The people of our district should recognize the face of the people they choose to lead the district in charge of the awesome responsibility of educating their children.”

Lisa Loidolt

Loidolt, 48, spent her childhood as a daughter of a Navy senior chief. She was born in the island of Maui and raised across the country before studying hotel management and joining the Navy herself. She moved to Minnesota nearly two decades ago. She currently works as a special education department administrative assistant.

She told the Times she is running because she believes “our children are the future and they need strong, dedicated leaders that are truly invested in their future.” Loidolt said she plans to win by “engaging in meaningful conversations about our school district and listening to the community’s concerns.”

Loidolt hopes to win by being “an extension of the community, meaning I’m the community representative when making decisions. I’m hoping to earn the support of all stakeholders by asking what I can do as a board member to help support kids, teachers, staff, and community members.”

Annie Newville

Newville, 46, originally from East Chain in southern Minnesota, moved to St. Cloud in 1993 to attend St. Cloud State University and then lived in Sauk Rapids for the last two decades. While being a caregiver, she has been involved in the community through various organizations. They include the Rice Elementary PTA, Benton Stearns Education District Parent Advisory Committee, Minnesota Autism Council and others.

Newville told the times she is running because she is “passionate about kids, proud to be a resident of this district with two students currently enrolled and committed to its future…. My involvement from classroom to state-level committees gives me a unique perspective and experience to make me an outstanding board member.”

If elected, some items on her agenda are “enabling the administrative team to attract and retain high-caliber employees… Creating a safe and secure space to ensure all students feel protected and welcome… Exercising fiscal responsibility to find ways to work with what we have, adjust and implement top-priority initiatives.” Newville plans to win by keeping her “campaign positive, focusing on the issues, and highlighting the qualities that I possess that make a strong candidate.”

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Meet the Sauk Rapids-Rice school board candidates