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The 2023 ISD 197 election is on Tuesday, November 7 with absentee voting starting on Friday, September 22. There are four school board seats on the ballot and two levies. Here’s your voter’s guide for ISD 197.
Where & How to Vote
ISD 197 has details on where and how to vote.
- School district elections use combined polling places, so be sure to double check where you vote.
- You can vote absentee via mail or in-person starting September 22.
Voter registration: If you are not registered to vote, you can register now. You can also register at your polling place on election day (you will need to provide proof of residence). If you’re not sure if you’re registered, you can check your voter status.
What’s on the Ballot?
Four of the seven ISD 197 school board seats are on the ballot, as well as an operating levy and a tech levy renewal. Take a look at your sample ballot so you know what to expect.
Printable Voter’s Guide
We’ve again created a printable voter’s guide to give you candidate info at a glance. Download the guide and use it to help start your research. Learn more about the chart and how we created it.
Tax Levies
ISD 197 has two property tax levies on the ballot:
- New Operating Levy
- Renew Tech Levy
More info: We covered the levies in more detail.
- ISD 197 has detailed info on both levies.
- ISD 197 is hosting three information meetings: Sept. 26 at Thompson Park, Oct. 12 at Two Rivers, and Oct. 25 at Two Rivers—all three from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- A ‘vote yes’ committee has a website with more info.
- We are unaware of any organized ‘vote no’ effort.
Support our member drive and help us add coverage of school board meetings.
Who’s Running for School Board?
There are five candidates running for the four open seats. Note that you can vote for up to four school board candidates.
- Tim Aune (campaign site)
- Rowen Elsmore (campaign site)
- Byron Schwab (incumbent, first elected in 2011; campaign site)
- Morgan Steele (campaign site)
- Randi Walz (campaign site)
Note: Barbara Kessler will also appear on the ballot, but she dropped out in August due to moving out of the district and becoming ineligible.
You can vote for up to four school board candidates.
Candidate Q&As
We asked the candidates a series of questions and shared their responses:
- Top priorities: What are the top two to three issues for ISD 197 to address in the next four years and how should the school board address those issues?
- Better: How will you make ISD 197 better? What specific strategies or policies can the school board put in place to create positive change?
- Money: What do you think of the district’s budget and spending priorities?
- Volunteer experience: How have you served your community? Describe your volunteer experience in ISD 197 schools and the wider community. What kind of governance, board, or other leadership experience do you have?
- Equity: How do you think the district should respond to equity issues? What do you think of the board’s current equity work and how would you change it?
- Unique: What sets you apart from the other candidates? What do you bring to the table that no one else can?
- Strengths and weaknesses: What do you think is ISD 197’s greatest strength? How will you build on that? What is ISD 197’s greatest weakness? How will you improve in that area?
- Levies: The district has had multiple referendums in the past decade, including the 2018 bond referendum, the 2021 levy renewal, and the current levies. Have you supported the past levies and do you support the current levy and renewal? Why or why not?
Watch Candidate Forums
- League of Women Voters Candidate Forum
- PTO Candidate Forum
- Optimist Club Talk ‘n Tacos Candidate Forum
More Candidate Info
- Vote 411 Q&A (Elsmore, Steele, & Walz participated)
- Fall 2023 District Dispatch (candidate profiles start on page 6)
- Pioneer Press
- St. Paul Voice
Thanks for Participating in Our Democracy
No matter who you’re supporting, be sure to get out there and vote.
If you think our civics could be a little more civil, you’re not alone. Learn more about a book, Better Politics, Please, inspired by politics in West St. Paul and written by two West St. Paul residents.
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