You probably know by now whether your community has a contentious school board election coming up based on the number of campaign yard signs you see — or don’t see — on your trip to the grocery store or to and from work.
But if those advertisements don’t typically convince you who to vote for, or whether you should vote at all, several school districts across the metro and in Greater Minnesota have been holding candidate forums this election season to allow those running for local office to distinguish themselves from one another. Those forums are typically moderated by a local chapter of the League of Women Voters Minnesota.
And those asking the questions at the candidate forums aren’t shying away from the difficult, sometimes politically polarizing topics.
At a Bloomington School Board candidate forum last month, candidates were asked: “How should decisions be made about the books in school libraries, particularly those with content that is objectionable to some groups or individuals?”
During a recent forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters for candidates running for Anoka-Hennepin School Board, a moderator asked, “What is the board’s role in supporting the diverse religious, ethnically and sexually oriented student population of the district?”
And in a 12-person race for four seats on the District 196 School Board (which represents Apple Valley, Eagan and Rosemount), candidates at a forum were asked a number of hot button questions, including:
“As a school board member how would you respond to parents concerns about what is being taught in, or left out of, classrooms?”
“What do you see to be the difference between equality and equity; which should be a goal for the district and why?”
In other districts, candidates were asked to take a position on whether or not they think police officers should be in schools.
Alpha News has compiled a list below of the school board election forums that have already taken place in several communities, which prospective voters can (mostly) view on YouTube.
We’re also posting a list of candidates for each of the most visible school board races taking place across the state this fall, including links to their websites or social media accounts, along with any notable endorsements they have received to date.
While voters in these districts can vote early or by mail right now, Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
The Minnesota Secretary of State lists all of the school board races taking place this fall across Minnesota. Candidates whose names will appear on ballots in those communities can be found here.
School Board forums available to view online for the following races:
Anoka-Hennepin (ISD #11)
Three district-based seats up for election, forums recorded on Sept. 15:
District 1:
Erin Heers-McArdle is endorsed by Education Minnesota and the DFL-aligned School Board Integrity Project; her website is here.
Linda Hoekman is endorsed by the Minnesota Parents Alliance; her website is here.
District 2:
Zach Arco is endorsed by the Minnesota Parents Alliance; his website is here.
Susan Witt is sponsored by Education Minnesota; her website is here.
District 5:
Michelle Langenfeld is endorsed by Education Minnesota; her website is here.
Scott Simmons is endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance; his website is here.
Cyrus Wilson’s website is here.
Bloomington (ISD #271)
Three at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 13:
Heather Stark, Nelly Korman and Mia Olson are endorsed by Education Minnesota.
Sandra Johnson, Ricardo Oliva and Langa Ohiro are endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Rosemount-Eagan-Apple Valley (ISD #196)
Four at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 13 in two parts:
Lori Urkiel, Melissa Field, Teressa Schlueter and Kim Bauer are endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Sachin Isaacs, Cory Johnson, Jackie Magnuson and Anna Williams are endorsed by Education Minnesota.
Other candidates include: Craig Angrimson, Charles McCready, Gina Swaney and Leah Gardner.
St. Paul (ISD #625)
Four at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 18:
Chauntyll Allen, Yusef Carillo and Erica Valliant are endorsed by Education Minnesota.
Other candidates include: Zuki Ellis, Carlo Franco, Abdi S. Omer, and Gita Rijal Zeitler.
Duluth (ISD #709)
One contested district-based seat and one at-large seat up for election, recorded on Sept. 18:
Frances Wittenberg is endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance for the at-large seat; other at-large seat candidates include Alanna Oswald and Stephanie Williams.
Henry Banks is endorsed by Education Minnesota for the District 3 seat; Loren Martell is the other candidate for this seat.
Minnetonka (ISD #276)
Four at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 12:
Brandon Voges, Chris Kratoska, Kemerie Foss and Karen Jordan are endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Sally Browne, Kemerie Foss, Dan Olson and Michael Remucal are endorsed by Education Minnesota.
Stillwater (ISD #834)
Special election for one at-large seat, recorded on Oct. 5:
Jessica Johnson is endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Chris Lauer is endorsed by Education Minnesota.
Edina (ISD #273)
Three at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 21:
Elliot Mann, Cheryl Barry and Jennifer Huwe are endorsed by Education Minnesota.
South St. Paul (ISD #6)
One at-large seat up for election, recorded on Sept. 28:
John Wilcox is endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
The other candidates include: Kim Humann, Beth Johnson and Dan Vick.
Fridley (ISD #14)
Three at-large sets up for election, recorded on Sept. 20:
Ibsen Gabriel and Roger Ungemach are endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Sara Jones, Jake Karnopp and Erik Keeler are endorsed by Education Minnesota.
Hastings (ISD #200)
The candidate forum has not yet taken place. Nine candidates are running for four at-large seats.
Four candidates are endorsed by both Education Minnesota and a local progressive organization, “200 Strong.” Those candidates are: Matt Bruns, Mariah Ring, Matt Seeger and Brandy Wentzler.
Four candidates are endorsed by the Minnesota Parents Alliance: Nancy Blanchard, Jenny Wiederholt-Pine, Philip Biermaier and Melissa Millner.
Other candidates include Pam Onnen.
Hopkins (ISD #270)
Four at-large seats up for election, recorded on Oct. 4:
Kaj Thompson is endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
The other candidates are: Shannon Andreson, Brooke Ann Roper, and Zhiming Zhao.
Mounds View (ISD #621)
Four at-large seats up for election, recorded on Oct. 2:
Paul Wikstrom, Heidi Caccamo, Art Mills and Mark Kelliher are endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Jim DeMay, Heidi Danielson, Alissa Daire Nelson and Jonathan Weinhagen are endorsed by Education Minnesota.
Other candidates include: Andre Koen, John VanOeveren and Rich Priore.
Roseville (ISD #623)
Three at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 28:
Alan Holasek, Karl Crump and Adam Maier are endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Todd Anderson, Mike Boguszewski and Rose W. Chu are endorsed by Education Minnesota.
Another candidate, Vaughn Klingenberg, is on the ballot but does not appear to be actively campaigning.
South Washington County (ISD #833)
Three at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 19:
Melinda Dols, Satonia Moore and Simi Patnaik are endorsed by Education Minnesota.
Anthony Mahmood, Jaime Kokaisel and Ryan Clarke are endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Other candidates include: Chad Borseth, Fekadu Ayichew, Randall Johnson and Molly Schaefer.
Spring Lake Park (ISD #282)
Three at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 20
Allie Schmidt and Ryan McLaughlin are endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Other candidates include: Kelly McClellan, Amy Hennen and Tony Easter.
St. Peter (ISD #508)
Four at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 19:
Tracy Stuewe, Bill Weber and Krystal Loula are endorsed by the Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Other candidates include: Marty Duncan, Amanda Hird, Bill Kautt, Rita Rassbach, Ken Rossow and Michael Spear.
Wayzata (ISD #284)
Four at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 21:
Valentina Eyres is endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Other candidates include: Paras Bhende, Dan Ginestra, Sheila Prior, Alex Rudich and Mariam Siddiqui.
West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan (ISD #197)
Four at-large seats up for election, recorded on Sept. 20:
Rowen Elsmore, Morgan Steele and Randi Walz are endorsed by Education Minnesota.
Other candidates include: Tim Aune, Byron Schwab and Barbara Kessler.
Westonka (ISD #277)
Four at-large seats up for election, record on Sept. 13:
Christopher Reffkin is endorsed by Minnesota Parents Alliance.
Other candidates include: Ralph Harrison, Heidi Marty, David W. Olson, Brian Roath and John Quinn.
Hank Long
Hank Long is a journalism and communications professional whose writing career includes coverage of the Minnesota legislature, city and county governments and the commercial real estate industry. Hank received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied journalism, and his law degree at the University of St. Thomas. The Minnesota native lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children. His dream is to be around when the Vikings win the Super Bowl.
