Some local school boards will get new members next year. The filing period for school board candidates ended last Friday.
None of the Knox School Board seats available this year are contested, according to filing information from the Starke County Clerk’s Office. Autumn Ferch and incumbents Kirk Bennett and Wendy McIntire have filed for the three Center Township seats. Longtime board member Jerry Fletcher did not file for reelection. Micheal L. Lord is running unopposed for the California-Washington Township seat currently held by Kurt Kemble.
The Culver School Board is also certain to get a new member. Michael Pazin is the only candidate who filed for the at-large seat currently held by Ken VanDePutte, who announced he isn’t seeking reelection. Incumbent Karen Lee is running for her first full term as the Town of Culver’s representative. She faces a challenge from John (J.D.) Uebler. Aubbeenaubee Township representative Theresa Thompson, and Union Township representative Mark Maes are both running unopposed for reelection.
Eastern Pulaski has one of the most hotly contested school board races. Scott Hanson, Kyle Johnson, and Jimmy Terry are challenging incumbents Larry Beach, Deke DeMarco, and Beth Ruff for the three Monroe Township seats, according to the Pulaski County Clerk’s Office. Rob Zeider is running unopposed for his first full term as the board’s Van Buren Township representative.
At Oregon-Davis, Corey Lady and Lee Nagai are vying against incumbent Annette Ferch for the two available at-large school board seats. Board member Kurt Hayes did not file for reelection.
Meanwhile, Dennis Gutwein, Jonathan Gutwein, Mandy Sharpe, and Jacob E. Tanner are all running unopposed for seats on the West Central School Board.
