Competition for school board

Just when I was thinking we wouldn't have any competition for seats on the school board, a bunch of citizens decided to run.  Although we don't have competition for every seat, we do have at least one contest in each district.  The award for the most candidates goes to Mount Vernon School District - seven candidates for three seats.  Congratulations to all candidates!  Thanks for stepping forward!  --Joel @ 5:07pm

Here's the candidates:

Candidate List for LINN COUNTY Regular School Board Election
September 11, 2007

* current office holder

Offices are “elect 1” unless otherwise noted

ALBURNETT COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Director at Large  (elect 2)
Cindy Francois                       5253 Serenity Ln, Central City, 52214           319-438-1809

David W. Gardner                  1976 Turner Rd, Central City, 52214             319-842-2824

Michael R. Olinger                  43 Klemish Cir, Center Point, 52213

CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Director District #4
*Melissa Kiliper-Ernst            2065 Cottage Glen Rd SE, Cedar Rapids 52403   319-364-3923
Director at Large

Karen Hartlep                         1620 8^th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, 52403           319-365-8842

John Laverty                           375 Eastland Dr SE, Cedar Rapids, 52403    319-363-9383

D. Lynn Sherrod                      2307 E Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, 52403          

CENTER POINT-URBANA COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Director District #2
Daniel Jones                            5089 Schwiebert Dr, Walker, 52352              

Cris Karr                                 4122 Alta Vista Dr, Center Point, 52213       319-849-3927
Director at Large
*Scott Millikin                         611 Boulder Dr, Center Point 52213

CENTRAL CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Director at Large

*Kirk D.  Hayes                      4098 Jordan’s Grove Rd, Central City 52214            319-438-1230 
 Neil Matthias                         1098 Edgerly Rd, Central City, 52214           319-437-2621
David A. Welter                      220 1^st St S. Central City, 52214                    319-438-1981

Director at Large -  to fill unexpired term
Crystal A. Murphy                  134 N 3^rd St, Central City, 52214                   319-438-6400

COLLEGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Director District #3
*Randy Bauer                          305 F Ave W, Walford, 52351                                    319-846-3374
Tim Kilpatrick                         12308 Morgan Valley Rd, Fairfax, 52228      319-446-7936

Director District #4

*Norman Zahradnik                7000 Ely Rd SW, Cedar Rapids 52404          319-848-4741

Director District #5

Dawn Tucker                          1570 Turkey Ridge Ct NW, Swisher, 52338  319-857-5380

LINN-MAR COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Director at Large (elect 2)

Barry L. Buchholz                   7828 Marquette Dr NE, Cedar Rapids 52402      319-373-5336

Robert J. Gilchrist                     1970 26^th St, Marion 52302                            319-377-3366

Daniel S. Schinke                    3615 28^th Ave, Marion 52302                         319-373-7968

LISBON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Director at Large (elect 2)
Travis Jubeck                          419 Truman St, Lisbon, 52253                       319-455-2440
*Doren Montgomery               20 122^nd St, Lisbon, 52253                 
*Andy Sullivan                        114 E Market St, Lisbon, 52253                     319-455-2190

MARION INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Director at Large (elect 2)

*Mary Ames                            1099 2^nd Ave, Marion, 52302                          319-377-4184

James Conklin                        2798 12^th Ave, Marion, 52302                        319-377-8449

Bill Huntoon                            1325 C Ave, Marion, 52302                           319-377-6436

MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Director at Large (elect 3)
Debra A. Herrmann                400 Wolfe Ln NE, Mt Vernon, 52314             319-895-8128
Ivan Kuntz                              3778 230^th Ave, Martell, 52305                      319-482-4461
Michael A. Moran                   315 3^rd St SW, Mt Vernon, 52314                  
Jason J. Nosek                       329 Hillview Dr, Mt Vernon, 52314               319-895-6138
Jennifer Pandich                     503 2^nd St NW, Mt Vernon, 52314                  319-210-0433
Jeff Walberg                            809 Lisbon Rd, Mt Vernon, 52314                  319-895-4056

*Thomas Wieseler                   406 Palisades Rd, Mt Vernon 52314              319-895-6850

NORTH-LINN COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Director District #1
Dan Buenz                               5884 Main St, Troy Mills, 52344        319-224-3200
Charles G. Ward                     3240 310^th St, Coggon 52218             563-932-2015

Director District #2
*Brad Winn                             616 Pershing St, Walker, 52352         319-448-4254

SPRINGVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Director at Large (elect 2)

Todd Nulle                              957 Paralta Rd, Springville, 52336   

*Dennis Thies                          704 Broadway St, Springville, 52336

Deb Vaughn                            113 5^th St, Springville, 52336

KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, MERGED AREA X

Director District II – College Community, Lisbon Community, Mount Vernon Community School Districts in Linn County
*Paul Glenn                            637 East Oak, Mechanicsville 52306  563-432-7710

Director District VII – Cedar Rapids Community School District, precinct 27 and 32, Linn-Mar Community and Marion Independent School Districts.
*James Mollenhauer                3279 Stone Ct, Marion 52302                        319-431-4374

Absentee voting at high school sporting events?

Yesterday, I was brain storming with the Election Services team when Tim Box, Voter Registration Administrator, came up with a great idea.  How about setting up satellite polling places at the schools during girls volleyball games and boys football games?  I think it’s a great idea because it ties school board members to a school event and it gives parents an opportunity to set a good example for kids by showing the kids it’s important to vote.

Would you take the time to vote if you could vote at a volleyball or football game?  --Joel @ 4:45pm