ALL The Delaware School Board Election Results

A day that saw victory and defeat for many ended at 8pm last evening as the polls closed for another school board election season.  Below are the results for all the Delaware school board elections.  Congrats to the victors.  For those who lost, I’ve been there.  It sucks.  You just have to pick yourself up again and move on.  Some run again and some we don’t hear from again in that arena.  Voter turnout was mixed in some districts.  Altogether though, given the population of various districts and the importance of local school board elections, they could all use more citizens voting.

Using Capital as an example, 239 votes were cast.  Capital has over 5,000 students.  It is in the heart of Dover.  Turnout last year was around the 500 mark.  Folks say signs don’t vote, which could be true, but they also bring constant awareness about the election date.  Last year, myself and my two opponents littered the town with campaign signs.  This year, I barely saw any.  I heard some say they knew nothing about either of the candidates so why even bother voting.  That is when you seek that candidate out if they don’t have an online presence.

I spent the evening up in Red Clay territory.  Both of the schools I went to had events going on that night.  Not in an attempt to dissuade voters, but to draw more people out to vote.  As a result, Red Clay had the largest number of voters out of all the districts with over 2,100 votes cast.  In my eyes, that is still low turnout given Red Clay’s student population, but it shows how community participation can lead to higher numbers in an election.

We need to elect our State Board of Education members like this.  None of this “Governor appointed” stuff.  Statewide elections, for each seat.

Without further ado, here are the “unofficial” results of the 2017 Delaware School Board elections.

Appoquinimink

Charlisa Edelin: 301 votes, Keinna McKnight: 206, Trevor Tucker: 24 votes

Brandywine

John Skrobot III: 402 votes, Alma Melina Gillis: 332

Caesar Rodney

David Failing: 495, Tawanna Prophet-Brinkley: 126, Alan Claycomb: 57

Capital

Joan Loewenstein-Engel: 154, Andy Ortiz: 85

Christina, District B

Angela Mitchell: 480, Justin Day: 457, Monica Moriak: 232, Karen Sobotker: 72

Christina, District G

Meredith Griffin Jr.: 828, Jeff Day: 369, Kimara Smith: 170

Lake Forest

Phillip Thomas: 294, Stephanie Justiano Johnson: 220, Austin Auen: 59

Milford

Ronald Evans: 227, Michael McKain: 124, Jason Miller: 96, Michael Firch: 79, Michael Wells: 52

Red Clay

Ashley Sabo: 1,142, Henry Clampitt: 833, Thomas Pappenhagen: 152

Seaford

Michael Kraft: 314, John Hanenfeld: 198

Smyrna

Vetra Evans-Gunter: 292, Karin Sweeney: 31

Woodbridge

Paul Breeding: 209, Darrynn Harris: 11

Polling Stations For School Board Elections! Don’t Forget To Vote Today!!!!

Thank you to Delaware United for getting this out there on Facebook. Polling stations open at 10am and will close at 8pm.  Get out and vote early if you can.  I would love to see a massive increase in voter turnout for our local school board elections.  It is far too important, especially this year!  School board members are overlooked by many but their importance is huge to our communities!

Red Clay: A.I. DuPont H.S., Baltz E.S., Brandywine Springs, Cab Calloway, Conrad, Dickinson H.S., Forest Oak E.S., H.B. DuPont M.S., Highlands E.S., Hilltop Lutheran Community Center, Lewis E.S., Linden Hill E.S., Marbrook E.S., McKean H.S., North Star E.S., Stanton M.S., Warner E.S.

Christina: Bancroft E.S., Bayard M.S., Brookside E.S., Christiana H.S., Downes E.S., Elbert-Palmer E.S., Gallaher E.S., Glasgow E.S., Jones E.S., Keene E.S., Maclary E.S., Marshall E.S., McVey E.S., Newark H.S., Oberle E.S., Quaker Hill Place Apartments, Shue-Medill M.S., Wilson E.S.

Brandywine: Brandywine H.S., Carrcroft E.S., Claymont E.S., Concord H.S., Crestview Apartments, Forwood E.S., Hanby E.S., Lombardy E.S., Maple Lane E.S., Mt. Pleasant H.S., P.S. DuPont M.S., Talley M.S.

Appoquinimink: Alfred G. Waters M.S., Bunker Hill E.S., Everett Meredith M.S., Marion Profitt Training Center, Middletown H.S., Old State E.S., Olive B. Loss E.S., Townsend Early Childhood Center

Smyrna: Kenton Ruritan Club, Smyrna E.S., Smyrna M.S.

Capital: East Dover E.S., Hartly E.S., William Henry M.S.

Caesar Rodney: Allen Frear E.S., W. Reilly Brown E.S., W.B. Simpson E.S.

Lake Forest: Lake Forest East E.S., Lake Forest North E.S., Lake Forest South E.S., Lake Forest H.S.

Milford: Benjamin Banneker E.S., Evelyn Morris Early Childhood Center, Lulu Ross E.S., Milford H.S.

Seaford: Seaford H.S.

Woodbridge: Woodbridge M.S., Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center

*Note: Colonial and Cape Henlopen have no election due to only one candidate filing.  Laurel and Indian River have no seat up for election this year.

Exceptional Delaware Endorsements For 2017 School Board Candidates

Now that all the surveys are up, it is time for endorsements!  I’ve known who I was going to endorse in a few elections for some time.  Some I changed my mind on.  Some I have always known who I would NOT endorse.  Some I wavered back and forth on.  Some races won’t get an endorsement from me at all.  I don’t always go with the “popular” candidate.  I look, as best I can, at the issues facing education and which candidate is willing to stick their neck out and do what is best for students.  The biggest thing is if the candidate knows what the issues are.  Without further ado, here come the endorsements:

Delaware School Board Election 2017 Survey: Seaford

In this last of the School Board candidate surveys, we have Seaford School District Board of Education candidates.  Actually, make that just one!  Even though there is a race, with John Hanenfeld facing Michael Kraft, only one of the candidates responded.  I appreciate all the work the candidates took to fill out these surveys.  Life is busy, whether you are running for a school board or not.  With that being said, I will be coming out with an article later tonight with my endorsements for many races.  This respondent will NOT receive an endorsement from me.  Why?  Read the answers to the survey questions.  I don’t expect people to agree with me.  In fact, it would make this blog useless if everyone did because there would be no need for it.  But everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions.

Delaware School Board Election 2017 Surveys: Appoquinimink

First off, I want to apologize.  I should have had the remaining surveys up on Friday morning.  What happened?  Life.  It happens!  But my apologies to the remaining respondents who took the time to diligently answer my 14 question survey.  I do have one more district to cover after this one.  I should have that up shortly.  In this round, we have Appoquinimink.  The candidates are incumbent board member Charlisa Edlin, Keinna McKnight, and Trevor Tucker.  Only one of the candidates responded to my survey.  Which one?

Delaware School Board Election 2017 Survey: Lake Forest and Milford School Districts

Lake Forest and Milford School Districts in lower Delaware have big races for the 2017 School Board Election.  In Lake Forest, there is a three-way race between Austin Auen, Phillip Thomas, and Stephanie Justiano Johnson.  For Milford, an epic five-way race has Ronald Evans, Michael Firch, Jason Miller, Michael McKain, and Michael Wells vying for the At-Large seat.  Milford has another open seat in Area D, but only Judith Purcell filed so she gets the board seat.

I reached out to the candidates in all the Delaware school districts.  For Lake Forest, I received a response back from Austin Auen.  For Milford, Ronald Evans and Michael McKain responded.  I used the contact information on the Kent County Department of Elections website as well as combing through Facebook.  I also gave “public notice” about the surveys on this blog if I did not have contact information.  I want to thank those who did respond with great answers to tough questions.  Don’t forget to vote on May 9th!

Delaware School Board Election 2017: Brandywine, Caesar Rodney, Capital, Smyrna, & Woodbridge School Districts

May 9th is in five days!  Big school board elections are taking place that day!

In the Brandywine School District, John Skrobot Jr. will face Alma Ginnis.  For Capital School District, Andy Ortiz and Joan Lowenstein-Engel are vying for the at-large seat.  Caesar Rodney has a three-way race with Alan Claycomb, Tawanna Prophet-Brinkley, and David Failing running against each other.  Smyrna will see Vetra Evans-Gunter facing Karin Sweeney.  Finally, Woodbridge will have a face-off between Paul Breeding and Darrynn Harris for their at-large seat.

I sent surveys to all the candidates who had viable contact information through either the Department of Elections contact information on their website or through Facebook.  Don’t forget to vote on May 9th!

These are the responses I received from the candidates in these five districts:

Delaware School Board Election 2017 Surveys: Red Clay Consolidated School District

In Red Clay, three candidates are vying for the District “C” seat for the Red Clay Consolidated Board of Education.  Henry Clampitt, Thomas Pappenhagen and Ashley Sabo are the three.  One candidates, James Starzman, withdrew shortly after filing.  Clampitt did not return a survey, but Pappenhagen and Sabo did.  One of these three will replace current board member Kenny Rivera.  Don’t forget to vote on May 9th!  Christina went up before this, and more will be coming later tonight or tomorrow morning.  Once again, I want to thank all the respondents for the time they took in coming up with answers to some very tough questions.

Delaware School Board Election 2017 Surveys: Christina School District

There are two races in the Christina School District for their Board of Education this year.  In District “B”, we have Justin Day, Angela Mitchell, Monica Moriak and Karen Sobotker.  In District “G” we have Jeff Day, Meredith Griffin Jr., and Kimara Smith.  I received survey from five of the candidates, but none from Justin Day or Kimara Smith.  To clarify, there are two candidates in the Christina races with a first initial of “J” and a last name of Day.  All the Day responses below are from candidate Jeff Day in District “G”.  I asked 14 tough questions of the candidates and I am grateful to the respondents for their responses.  Don’t forget to vote on May 9th!

Last Chance For School Board Candidates To Submit Surveys

This is a final plea to all Delaware School Board candidates to get their surveys into me by midnight tonight.  Many of you are involved in a race for a board seat.  Many of your opponents already submitted their surveys.  Many of you won’t have an opportunity to reach a large part of your district by not submitting a survey.  Many teachers vote in school board elections.  Many teachers read Exceptional Delaware.  Many school board elections can have very close votes.  Do you want to prevent yourself from tipping the scales in your favor?  Get your surveys in by midnight tonight please!  You can email it to me at kevino3670@yahoo.com by midnight tonight.  The post should go up by tomorrow.  Coming back after the fact with your survey after seeing the other candidates answers will not result in my publishing your survey!  Thank you!

And yes, I would love for EVERY candidate to submit their survey.  Especially you HC!

School Board Candidates: Important Message!

For all the candidates for the 2017 Delaware School Board elections, I am extending the due date for the surveys until 5pm on Monday, May 2nd.  I’ve received several already so I thank those candidates.  I would love to get every candidate’s survey, but I am also realistic.  It is a great way to get your viewpoints out to a wider audience in your district.  My email is kevino3670@yahoo.com and I wish all of you the best of luck on May 9th!

Three File For Christina District B Seat In A Matter Of Hours

Wow!  Meg Mason resigns from the Christina Board of Education a week ago, the New Castle County Department of Elections announces the seat will be part of the May 9th election, the deadline for candidates to file is April 20th, and three women file today!

Who are these brave souls?

Angela Mitchell

Monica Moriak

Karen Sobotker

Looks like we have a race!  The only name I am familiar with is Monica Moriak, who serves on the Christina Citizen’s Budget Oversight Committee.  At this time, Christina will have two three-way races for board seats.  All I can say is look for A LOT of campaign signs all over the place in the Greater Newark area as well as the Wilmington section of Christina in the coming weeks!

Final Delaware 2017 School Board Candidate Filings

It is now after 4:30pm on March 3rd, 2017.  The filing deadline passed so all candidates are known for the 2017 School Board election.  We have a big list and quite a few races! A 5-way race in Milford, 4-way in Red Clay, and 3-ways in Appo, Caesar Rodney, Christina, and Lake Forest.  2-ways in Brandywine, Capital and Smyrna.  NO filings in Cape Henlopen as of this writing.

Appoquinimink: Charlisa Edelin, Trevor Tucker, Keinna McKnight

Brandywine: Alma Gillis, John Skrobot

Caesar Rodney: Alan Claycomb, Tawanna Prophet-Brinkley, David Failing

Cape Henlopen: No filings as of 4:46pm

Capital: Andres Ortiz, Joan Loewenstein-Engel

Christina: Jeffrey Day, Kimara Smith, Meredith Griffin Jr., *Shirley Saffer withdrew

Colonial: Leo Magee

Delmar: Thomas Elliott

Lake Forest: Austin Auen, Phillip Thomas, Stephanie Justiniano-Johnson

Laurel: Linda Wintjen

Milford (Area D): Judith Purcell

Milford (At-Large): Ronald Evans, Michael Firch, Jason Miller, Michael McKain, Michael Wells

Red Clay: Ashley Sabo, Henry Clampitt, Thomas Pappenhagen, James Startzman Jr.

Seaford: Michael Kraft

Smyrna: Vetra Evans-Gunter, Karin Sweeney

Woodbridge: Paul Breeding

*Indian River has no open board seats this election year

 

 

School Board Election 2017: Many Filings Already!

On May 9th, Delawareans across the state will vote for school district board members.  It happens every year!  This year will be no exception.  Below are the list of districts with open seats for the election and who has already filed.

Appoquinimink, at-large, expires 2022, no filings

Brandywine, District D, expires 2022, no filings

Caesar Rodney, at-large, expires 2022, Alan Claycomb (filed 2/3/17)

Cape Henlopen, Area D, expires 2022, no filings

Capital, at-large, expires 2022, Andres Ortiz (filed 2/2/17)

Christina, District G, expires 2022, Shirley Sutton-Saffer (filed 1/5/17) and Jeffrey Day (filed 1/31/17)

Delmar, at-large, expires 2022, no filings

Lake Forest, at-large, expires 2022, Austin Auen (filed 1/6/17)

Laurel, at-large, expires 2022, Linda Wintjen (filed 12/30/16)

Milford, Area D, expires 2022, no filings

Milford, at-large, expires 2022, no filings

Red Clay, District C, expires 2022, no filings

Seaford, at-large, expires 2022, Michael Kraft (filed 1/4/17)

Smyrna, at-large, expires 2022, Vetra Evans-Gunter (filed 1/23/17)

Woodbridge, at-large, expires 2022, no filings

So it looks like we have one contested seat up in Christina, but no others… yet.  That will change.  The filing deadline is the first Friday in March.  And no, I will not be running for Capital again this year.  But I do see one of my opponents is taking another shot at it.  Good luck Mr. Ortiz!  Indian River does not have any open board seats this year.  All I can say about school board elections is get the word out.  The number of votes in these things compared to the number of students in the district is very small.  People shouldn’t complain about school board members if they don’t vote in these elections!  Come April, you will start seeing school board election signs all over the place across Delaware.  Don’t steal them though, it is still against the law!