March 28, 2024

Creston School Board has two vacancies, one candidate

With Dunphy, Fyock not running for re-election, Brad James will be Creston's sole candidate.

Two vacancies. One candidate.

That’s how the Sept. 8 Creston School Board ballot is shaping out, following Thursday’s 5 p.m. nomination deadline.

Current members Ron Dunphy and Rick Fyock are not running for re-election this year, making Brad James, a 1995 CHS graduate, the election’s only candidate.

James, 39, is a swine nutritionist with the Ohio-based Kalmbach Feeds Inc. He has a bachelor’s in animal science from Iowa State University and a master of science and doctorate in philosophy, both with emphases in swine nutrition, from Kansas State University.

After 10 years living in Ohio, James moved back to Creston last summer with his wife, Melissa, and their two children. His daughter, Lilly, is in second grade and his son, Ben, will be entering kindergarten.

His father, local attorney Marion James, served on the Creston School Board for 15 years.

James said he believes his experiences, including time spent on a school board in Ohio, will bring a unique perspective to Creston’s board.

“I think that will help me contribute to creative problem solving and teamwork,” he said. “Graduating from Creston High School, I’ve got the utmost respect for the history and the success of the Creston School, and I’m familiar with several of the board members and look forward to the opportunity working with them side-by-side.”

Dunphy, who is in his fourth year and currently serving as president, said he has seen significant progress made in the goals he set when he ran for the board, especially in the areas of volunteerism and technology.

“As a result of those goals, and what I have seen, I think it’s time for somebody else to pick up the challenge,” he said.

Fyock, who has served for about five years, said he has enjoyed his time on the board but also wants to give a younger person a chance.

“I kind of thought well, maybe if I didn’t run maybe some younger person who had kids in school would run,” he said. “They’re the kind of people who should be really passionate about it.”

Steve McDermott, Creston Schools superintendent, said the remaining board position will go to a write-in candidate or be appointed by the board.

With the consolidation with Prescott coming in 2016, McDermott said this year’s elections will go as normal in both districts. The 2015-2016 boards at each school will then decide how to downsize before the next school year. The initial Creston-Prescott board will have four members from the Creston board and one member from the Prescott board.

Here’s a look at the elections in other area districts:

Adair-Casey

One at-large seat, four candidates:

Dallas Dinkla

Randy Carney

Tim Schaefer

Sheryl Richter

Bedford

District 2 seat, one candidate:

Jack Spencer

District 4 seat, one candidate:

Joe Murphy

District 5 seat, one candidate:

Rodger Ritchie

Diagonal

Three at-large seats, three candidates:

Gina Gunsolley

Becky Stamps

Pamela Grace

East Union

District 1 seat, one candidate:

Brett Weis

District 3 seat, one candidate:

Judith Wachter

District 4 seat, no candidates.

Lenox

Two at-large seats, two candidates:

Kurt Stoaks

Gary Tullberg

Mount Ayr

One at-large seat, one candidate:

Brandi Shay

District 1 seat, one candidate:

Craig Winemiller

District 3 seat, one candidate:

Patricia West

Nodaway Valley

Two District 2 seats, three candidates:

Amy DeVault

Rebecca McCann

Kevin Wissner

Orient-Macksburg

One at-large seat, one candidate:

Tricia Gardner

District 2 seat, no candidates

District 3 seat, one candidate:

Eldon Ray

District 4 seat, one candidate:

Jana Scott

Prescott

Two at-large seats, two candidates:

Steve Wainwright

Don Gee

Southwest Valley

Three at-large seats, three candidates:

Gwen Larsen

Scott Akin

Maria Fuller