Candidates fill out school board races

It's been a contentious year in Eden Prairie, with packed school board meetings, parents picketing, a threat of a lawsuit against the district over school boundary changes, and most recently, Superintendent Melissa Krull's announcement that she's stepping down after nine years.

Now the school district will have a chance to debate it all again as eight candidates vie for four board seats up for election on Nov. 8.

Eden Prairie is one of nearly a dozen west-metro school districts that have school board elections this fall. Last week was the filing deadline for candidates. Elected board members will start in January.

"You hope it doesn't get ugly," said Eden Prairie candidate Bill Lapadat, a former teacher who is one of five challengers running against three incumbents for four at-large seats -- which means the board will end up with at least one new member.

"I think it will be a mirror of our politics," Lapadat said. "There's nobody in the middle."

Incumbent Kim Ross said she's running for reelection in part to maintain continuity as the district undergoes major changes. Challengers David Espe said he's running to bring in new leadership to the school district while Karla Bratrud and Derek Gunderson said they want to get involved with the board as parents.

Gunderson, who is also serving on the Eden Prairie Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission, added that he hopes the controversial school boundary plan isn't the only issue people vote on. "Both sides have let the message get out of hand," he said.

Tim Fox, who served on the board for a two-year term eight years ago, said he's making another run because of the boundary plan, which he said he is supportive of but "it just seems like there is a need for someone to have communication skills and collaboration skills," he said. "The communication is why I think that became such a big issue."

Those six join incumbents Holly Parker and John Estall, who didn't return messages or declined to comment.

15 running in Richfield

Richfield had a surprising 15 candidates file for three open seats, and apparently without any particular issue to attract them.

"Why this year? Why so many of us?" asked Sharon Christenson after she heard she'll have to compete against 13 others besides her husband, Scott, another candidate. "We're just interested in what's going on in the schools."

Incumbent Todd Nollenberger said he, too, was surprised by the turnout. "I haven't heard anyone cry out there is a major issue," he said. "It appears to be a lot of interest [in the district], which is good."

Added challenger Brian Lematta: "People will be able to come up with a good slate [of board members]."

Those four join incumbent Peter Toensing and challengers Monica Holl Petrov, Will Berend, John Ashmead, Amy Cossette, Deb Etienne, Woody Duvlea, Chris Williams, Zack Olson, Teresa Kruse and Christine M. Maleck.

Both Eden Prairie and Richfield also have referendums slated for November, as do Delano, Edina, Waconia, Watertown-Mayer and Westonka.

Here are the other west-metro school board races slated for Nov. 8. Incumbents are indicated by an asterisk:

Four challengers and one incumbent are vying for three open spots. Incumbents Jim Sorum and Chuck Walters are not seeking reelection. Board members receive $600 a month.

• Judy Gruggen

• Ricardo Oliva

• Maureen Bartolotta*

• Dick Bergstrom

• Nelly Korman

Two challengers and four incumbents are vying for four open spots. Board members receive $40 per meeting.

• James Spille*

• Craig Pexa*

• Chad Pederson

• Dean Lind*

• Scott Knight*

• David Bleichner

Five challengers and three incumbents are vying for four open spots. Incumbent Carol Bomben isn't seeking reelection. Board members receive $425 a month.

• John Estall*

• Tim Fox

• Bill Lapadat

• Kim Ross*

• Derek Gunderson

• Karla Bratrud

• David Espe

• Holly Parker*

Four challengers and one incumbent are vying for three open spots. Incumbents Bert Ledder and Peyton Robb aren't seeking reelection. Board members receive $200 a month.

• Jason Berger

• Cathy Cella*

• Sarah Patzloff

• Ben Rider

• Leny Wallen-Friedman

Three challengers and two incumbents are vying for four open spots. Incumbents Ellen Dustman and Yvonne Selcer are not seeking reelection. Board members receive $4,953 a year; the board chair receives $5,298 a year.

• Wendy Donovan*

• Irma McIntosh Coleman*

• Steven Adams

• Tina Soumaré

• Kristine Newcomer

Six challengers and two incumbents are vying for four open spots. Incumbents Cal Litsey and Paul Luehr are not seeking reelection. Board members receive $375 a month; the chairman receives an additional $1,500 a year and the vice chairman receives an additional $750 a year.

• Derek Eitreim

• Charlie Kanan

• Kevin B. Maire

• Laurie Stoltenberg

• Lisa Sumner

• Joe Torelli

• Lisa Wagner*

• Karen L. Walkowski*

One challenger and three incumbents are vying for three open spots. Board members don't receive compensation.

• Michael Bash*

• John Malone*

• Dick Lewis*

• Don Germanson

Thirteen challengers and two incumbents are vying for three open spots. Incumbent Tom Flood is not seeking reelection. Board members receive $6,000; the board clerk receives $6,300 and the board chair gets $6,600 a year.

• Brian Lematta

• Monica Holl Petrov

• Scott Christensen

• Sharon Christensen

• Will Berend

• John Ashmead

• Amy Cossette

• Peter Toensing*

• Deb Etienne

• Woody Duvlea

• Todd Nollenberger*

• Chris Williams

• Zack Olson

• Teresa Kruse

• Christine M. Maleck

Two challengers and three incumbents are vying for four open spots. Incumbent Rolf Peterson is not seeking reelection. The board chairman receives $3,698 a year, the clerk receives $3,426 and the treasurer, vice chairman and directors receive $3,063. Board members also receive additional compensation for meetings held outside regular meetings.

• Julie Sweitzer*

• Nancy Gores*

• Pam Rykken*

• Joe Tatalovich

• Bill Levine

Four challengers and three incumbents are vying for four open spots. Incumbent Pat Gleason isn't seeking reelection. Board members receive $360 a month; the board chair gets $420 a month.

• Linda Cohen*

• Jay Hesby*

• Carter Peterson*

• Joan Curtiss

• Cheryl Polzin

• Nick Roehl

• Gregory D. Baufield

Four challengers and four incumbents are vying for four open four-year terms. Board members receive $200 a month.

• Ann Bremer*

• Dave Botts*

• David Bond

• Ralph Harrison

• Chris Carlson

• Dan Mailey

• Gary Hejna*

• Tom Notch*

Kelly Smith • 612-673-4141