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