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September 6, 2023 Update: For current information on the 2023 election for ISD 197, see our voter’s guide.
August 16, 2023 Update: With the filing period officially closed, we announced the official candidates and will roll out a voter’s guide soon.
This fall’s off-year election will include four seats on the ISD 197 school board and likely two tax referendums. We’ll track who’s running during the filing period, which runs August 1-15.
Who’s Running?
- Tim Aune – Running & officially filed
- Carmella Doby – Running & officially filed
- Rowen Elsmore – Running & officially filed
- Barbara Kessler – Running & officially filed
- Byron Schwab (incumbent, first elected in 2011) – Running & officially filed
- Morgan Steele – Running & officially filed
- Randi Walz – Running & officially filed
The following incumbents confirmed they are not running:
- Brenda Corbett (incumbent, first elected in 2011) – Not running
- Joanne Mansur (incumbent, first elected in 2011) – Not running
- Terry Stamman (incumbent, first elected in 2015) – Not running
Note: We’ll do our best to keep this updated as we approach the close of the filing period. It won’t be official until August 17 when the filing period closes and the withdrawal period ends. People can change their minds, either dropping out or deciding to run when they previously said they wouldn’t. But after August 17, filed candidates will be on the ballot no matter what (not even death can remove a name).
How ISD 197 Elections Work
- Voting: Election day is November 7 and absentee voting begins September 22.
- Terms: Seven members serve on the ISD 197 school board for four-year terms. They’re up for election in odd years with staggered terms. This year four of the seven seats are up.
- Requirements: In order to run you must be an eligible voter, be at least 21 years old on assuming office, and live in the district for 30 days before the election.
- Filing: The filing period to run for school board opens August 1 and closes August 15 (the withdrawal deadline is August 17, which means you have two days to change your mind and pull out). There is a $2 filing fee.
- Primary?: There is no primary for school board elections, so all candidates will appear on the November 7 ballot, regardless of how many candidates there are. (10 candidates in 2021 was the most in the last 30 years.)
- Want to run: ISD 197 has more information about running for school board.
Why Talk Who’s Running?
The topic of who’s running has often been a subject of gossip and whispers. But it’s good for our local democracy to have an open conversation about who’s running. We prefer to encourage that conversation. Contested elections and participation in our democracy benefit us all.
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