School boards recruit candidates

School districts rely on community oversight, and candidates interested in running for a board seat in the November election must complete paperwork by noon Thursday, June 18.

As part of meeting that deadline, they must gather signatures from at least 10 voters in their board district on a petition, so advance work is needed.

Those forms are available at Wayne County’s voter registration office in the courthouse, 301 E. Main St., Richmond.

School boards make key decisions regarding their district’s future, such as hiring superintendents and approving budgets and policies. Many school districts are bracing for potential budget cuts prompted by state property tax reforms.

Only a portion of each school board’s seats are up for election at one time. Open seats are:

• Centerville-Abington: One at-large seat and District B (Center 3,4,5,6)
• Nettle Creek: Two at-large and District B (Dalton, Perry Townships)
• Northeastern: One at-large and Districts A (Greene)
• Richmond Community Schools: Two at-large plus District 3 (much of the city’s west side). A map is available at wwn.to/rcsdistricts
• Western Wayne: One at-large and District C (Washington)

As of Friday, May 29, incumbent Todd Dooley had filed as an independent for Centerville-Abington District B.

Party affiliation now optional

Indiana General Assembly changed some rules related to school board elections that take effect this year and will affect potential candidates.

Previously, all school board races were nonpartisan. However, candidates now can include their party affiliation (Democratic, Libertarian, Republican or fill in the blank). They also can run as an Independent, elect not to disclose any affiliation with a political party or say they’re neither affiliated with a political party nor identify as an independent.

Those who claim affiliation with the Republican or Democratic Party must have selected that party’s ballot in the last two primary elections in which they voted.

If they can’t meet that affiliation requirement, they must obtain and file a certificate from the appropriate county chair of their preferred political party with their candidate paperwork.

Republican Chair Beth Leisure can be reached at 765-914-0633 or waynecountyrepublicansinfo@gmail.com. Democratic Chair Maggie Thomas can be contacted at 765-676-3367 or info@waynecountydemocrats.com. 

Indiana School Boards Association has outlined some pros and cons about declaring party affiliation at wwn.to/ballotlandscape.

What’s needed to file?

• Complete a petition of nomination and consent (also called a CAN-34 form) and the CAN-12 form (a statement of economic interests). Collect signatures from 10 registered voters in their board member district. Gathering a few more signatures than required in case any would be ineligible is recommended. Both forms are available at in.gov/sos/elections/candidate-information.
• Those raising or spending more than $500 have to form a candidate’s committee. Indiana Secretary of State’s office offers a campaign finance manual at in.gov/sos/elections/.

Indiana School Boards Association offers advice for future candidates. The organization has planned free webinars at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, and 12:30 p.m. Friday, June 12. It also offers responses to questions at www.isba-ind.org/more/candidate-101.

For more information, call Wayne County’s voter registration office at 765-973-9226 or email voters@waynecounty.in.gov.

Other races

There’s still time to join the ballot for other elected offices for the November election as an independent or Libertarian, or to fill a vacancy on a Democratic or Republican ballot.

Political parties can appoint candidates for ballot vacancies until July 3. Democratic and Republican parties must file a certificate of selection by noon Monday, July 6, that notes a ballot vacancy has been filled.

Last week, Cheryl Heacox filed as independent for Clay Township Advisory Board.

Additional candidate filings will be shared in future editions of WWN.