After struggles to pass levies, will Kennewick school voters choose culture wars over stability? | Opinion
The Kennewick School Board, like other local elected bodies, is supposed to be nonpartisan. That hasn’t stopped Benton County Republicans from mounting a concerted effort to send the board lurching to the right.
The GOP’s opportunity comes as two school board moderates chose not to seek reelection. One incumbent is running.
The school district already had culture war skirmishes. Earlier this year there was a flap over flag displays, and last year the board got twisted up over critical race theory and “factual U.S. history.” Both debates were time and effort wasted that could have gone to improving learning.
There’s certainly room for some educational improvement. The district’s more than 19,000 students lag behind state averages on almost every metric of the Washington State Report Card.
The Tri-City Herald Editorial Board interviewed candidates and reviewed their records and qualifications in deciding whom to recommend in each race. We commend all candidates for stepping up to run. Competitive elections elevate the public discourse and give voters a choice, which is a cornerstone of democracy.
Voters can view all of our recommendation and our endorsement interviews online at tri-cityherald.com.
Director No. 3: Michael Connors
Michael Connors is the only incumbent seeking reelection. He has served one full term on the board. If he wins, he would be the only director of the five who has been around for more than two years. In his time on the board, he has been a pragmatist, not an ideologue. During the heated ideological debates of recent years, he brought the board together as a mediator.
Kennewick voters rejected two levies before approving the third try. As a result, budgeting will be difficult to navigate until the delayed revenue starts coming in. The board will benefit from Connors’ institutional knowledge, experience and ability to build coalitions during that time and after.
Dustin Petersen is challenging Connors. He brings some strong assets, including being bilingual and having elected experience, albeit two years on a small town city council 100 miles away. He might be a great candidate in a few years depending on what the board needs, and we hope that he finds a place in the district to make a difference in the meantime.
We recommend voters choose Connors experience for an otherwise fresh-faced board.
Director No. 4: Brittany Gledhill
Britany Gledhill isn’t taking her candidacy lightly. Since she decided to run, she’s attended school board meetings, interviewed district employees and reviewed the budget so that she can hit the ground running if elected. There’ll still be a learning curve, but she’s doing all the right things to prepare.
Gledhill has extensive community service experience that could help improve relationships between the school board and the public. Public skepticism was evident in the rejection of two levies.
There are some warning signs in her answers to tough questions. For example, she said that she doesn’t like book bans, but she then acknowledged that there are some books that don’t belong on school shelves. She would have a committee review them first, not the school board, and she insists on librarian autonomy. If she can moderate ideological tendencies, she could make a strong school board member.
Gledhill’s opponent, Aaron Michele Massey, is mounting a weak campaign and can’t even bother to put up a website. She skipped her scheduled endorsement interview with the Tri-City Herald Editorial Board.
We recommend voters choose Gledhill, the candidate who is taking the race seriously.
Director No. 5: No recommendation
Josh Miller has no active opponent in the Position 5 race. Lisa Peppard has ended her candidacy after a death in the family, but her name still appears on the ballot. If elected, Peppard has pledged to relinquish the seat and the board will appoint someone to fill it.
Full list of Tri-City Herald Editorial Board 2023 recommendations and videos | Opinion
