Adam Seidel
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Adam Seidel is an at-large member of the Eden Prairie Board of Education in Minnesota. The general election was held on November 3, 2015. Adam Seidel won the general election on November 3, 2015.
Biography
Seidel resides in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Seidel graduated from Eden Prairie High School in 2006 before earning his B.A. degree in economics from Northwestern University in 2011. He is employed as a committee administrator with the Minnesota House of Representatives State Government Finance Committee. Seidel also works as a television sports analyst with the Missouri Valley Football Conference TV Network.[1]
Elections
2015
- See also: Eden Prairie Schools elections (2015)
Opposition
The election in Eden Prairie featured four of the seven seats on the board up for at-large general election on November 3, 2015.
The seats of incumbents Karla Bratrud, Dave Espe, John Estall and Holly Parker were up for election. Espe, who was the only incumbent to file for re-election, faced challengers Asad Aliweyd, Murshid Barud, John Kohner, Greg Lehman, Jeffery Saxton and Adam Seidel for the four at-large seats. Barud previously ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the board in 2013. Espe, Kohner, Lehman and Seidel won the four seats.
Results
| Eden Prairie Schools, At-Large, General Election, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Adam Seidel |
21.9% | 2,531 |
| Dave Espe Incumbent |
20.9% | 2,416 |
| John Kohner |
17.7% | 2,041 |
| Greg Lehman |
13.7% | 1,582 |
| Asad Aliweyd | 11.6% | 1,342 |
| Jeffery Saxton | 8.8% | 1,016 |
| Murshid Barud | 5.0% | 579 |
| Write-in votes | 0.33% | 38 |
| Total Votes | 11,545 | |
| Source: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Local Results in Hennepin County," accessed November 4, 2015 These election results are not official and will be updated when certified results are available. You can submit certified results by contacting us. |
||
Funding
Seidel reported $2,150.00 in contributions but no expenditures to the Eden Prairie Schools administration, which left his campaign with $2,150.00 on hand during the election.[2]
Endorsements
Seidel received endorsements from the Eden Prairie News and Eden Prairie Board of Education member Holly Link.[3][4]
Campaign themes
2015
Seidel completed a survey conducted by the Eden Prairie News:
| “ | What is your view of the state of the school district?
The schools are still the most crucial piece to Eden Prairie being Eden Prairie: a dynamic community with major opportunities to succeed in business, education, and raising a family. A community that others look to as a destination and leader. There are new challenges for Eden Prairie Schools as Eden Prairie matures as a city, but we are blessed with a variety of strengths that are powerful and unique. We have the tools in our toolbox of parents, local businesses, teachers, and students to build Eden Prairie Schools that lead the field for decades more. If you could change one thing about how this district operates, what would it be? I intend to expand the accessibility and transparency of the School Board. A key job of the School Board is to act as a voice for the thoughts and concerns across the whole community and to work with community members and the administration to uncover and implement great ideas from across Eden Prairie that can benefit our kids. I have made myself extremely available and easy to contact to listen to anyone. The School Board’s job of oversight requires increased scrutiny to protect new referendum promises, and I will demand that increased accountability and more detailed budget information. What is the biggest issue facing the Eden Prairie School District right now? The passage of the new referendum provides a huge opportunity to provide another generation of EP kids with a great education. However, that new money is our tax dollars and comes with the responsibility to ensure it is spent carefully and as promised. Complex state laws make it difficult to correct course years into a referendum levy, so long-term thinking over the next two years are extremely crucial to ensure we can fulfill the very specific promises of the referendum in the later years of the levy.[5] |
” |
| —Eden Prairie News survey (2015)[6] | ||
Seidel completed a survey conducted by the League of Women Voters:
| “ | 1. Describe your background, experience and public school involvement that qualify you for the Eden Prairie School Board.
I have been an Eden Prairie resident, homeowner, and Eden Prairie Schools student since I was five years old - from kindergarten through 2006 EPHS graduation. I know the standard of education we expect. I’ve worked with countless teachers, parents, businesses, and students in our schools, and knows both the challenges and advantages in Eden Prairie Schools. I know what it takes to make a difference in our schools: in high school, I founded the EPHS singing valentines program, which continues to this day and raises thousands of dollars annually for the choir scholarship program. 2. What are the growing trends in student needs, and how should the Eden Prairie School District address them? The achievement gap is a widely discussed issue, both locally and nationally, and for good reason. Eden Prairie is in a unique position to address this issue with cooperation from the local business community.As recent cooperation between Hennepin Tech, the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, and EP Schools proves, our local business community is eager to help our schools provide a competitive, 21st century education. Expanding our efforts to increase awareness and encourage pursuit of technical skills fields has the potential to not only benefit a wide variety of learners, but also address our achievement gap directly. I am very excited to be a member of the EP Chamber and have the opportunity to lead the efforts to bring the resources and energy of our local businesses to bear for the betterment of Eden Prairie kids. 3. Discuss any specific changes you would like to make in school district policies, programs or curricula. I was very fortunate growing up in Eden Prairie in an exemplary school district that provided a superb education. Eden Prairie Schools are already a special place to grow up, so we don't need radical or shocking changes to continue our standards of excellence. What we need to do is fight to maintain the special qualities that have helped make Eden Prairie special. That's why I'm working hard to engage our excellent teachers and staff to take advantage of all their ideas brought by the experience of working with our kids. I will continue and enrich our cooperation with our vibrant and generous local business community. I will make sure parents know their thoughts and concerns are listened to and easy to express. And I will insist we continue to improve transparency so decisions that impact our schools are understood. I would like to continue and strengthen existing efforts to ensure learning across the elementary schools is compatible. While it is definitely important to empower the teachers and workers in each individual school to address the strengths and challenges unique to each building, it is also crucial that fundamental concepts and materials are universal enough that no time wasting gaps between students exist entering CMS. A persistent effort to communicate across the district can accomplish this goal without damaging the flexibility and creativity of the great teachers in each building. This will guarantee our elementary learners receive the individualized educated they need, but also are ready to go on day one in middle schools. 4. What recommendations do you have for the school district to save money? The passage of the referendum levi was a major opportunity for our schools, but also a major responsibility for our school board. Our focus needs to be guaranteeing the promises made to the voters as to how that money is spent will be fulfilled, and the new funds will not be diverted to different priorities. 5. How will you engage the community to improve Eden Prairie public schools? I’m making a commitment to maintain every line of communication for my entire term on the board. I will maintain my website, continue to provide my contact information publicly, and never stop searching for new avenues to provide information. School Board meetings are held publicly, but sometimes people have a hard time finding information on the issues they're interested in. I’ll work to make sure everybody knows when major votes and discussions are taking place so input is welcomed and transparency is maintained.[5] |
” |
| —League of Women Voters survey (2015)[7] | ||
Candidate website
Seidel published the following on his campaign website:
| “ | About Adam
Lifetime Eden Prairie Resident Since he was five years old, Adam has been an Eden Prairie resident, homeowner, and Eden Prairie Schools student - from kindergarten through 2006 EPHS graduation. As a proud EP grad, Adam knows the standards of excellent schools we expect. He has worked with countless teachers, parents, businesses, and students in our schools, and knows both the challenges and advantages in Eden Prairie Schools. Adam will be a hometown voice for the community to build another generation of educational excellence. Long-Term Financial Vision Last year, the voters passed a new 10-year budget referendum, and we need to make sure those resources go to work for Eden Prairie kids. Adam knows we have a huge opportunity to invest those resources wisely - and as promised - to ensure they last and provide an exceptional education for an entire generation of students. Complex state laws mean we can’t make mistakes now and change course or fix a problem a few years down the road – smart, long-term financial decisions are needed today. Adam's career in finances and budgeting is the experience we need to anticipate unexpected consequences and make the right long-term choices for our students. Listen to YOU Adam knows it will take everyone's ideas - from his EP teachers to today's parents to the local business community - to build the competitive, 21st century education EP families deserve. It's important to never stop communicating with every corner of the community, listening to every idea and concern to be found. That's why Adam is making a commitment to maintain every line of communication for his entire term on the board. Adam will keep up this website, continue to provide his contact information publicly, and never stop searching for new avenues to provide information. School Board meetings are held publicly, but sometimes people have a hard time finding information on the issues they're interested in. Adam will make sure you hear when important meetings, big votes, and key discussions are happening so the community can share ideas and Eden Prairie Schools stay transparent. Adam will give YOU a voice on the school board![5] |
” |
| —Adam Seidel campaign website (2015)[8] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Adam Seidel' 'Eden Prairie Schools'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Adam Seidel," accessed October 27, 2015
- ↑ Eden Prairie Schools, "2015 School Board Candidate Campaign Financial Reports," accessed November 1, 2015
- ↑ Eden Prairie News, "Aliweyd, Espe, Kohner and Seidel endorsed," October 22, 2015
- ↑ Adam Seidel for Eden Prairie, "School Board Director Holly Link Voting for Adam," October 15, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Eden Prairie News, "Candidate Q&A: Adam Seidel," October 22, 2015
- ↑ League of Women Voters, "Voter Guide: Adam Seidel," accessed October 27, 2015
- ↑ Adam Seidel for Eden Prairie, "About Adam," accessed October 27, 2015
| 2015 Eden Prairie Schools Elections | |
| Hennepin County, Minnesota | |
| Election date: | November 3, 2015 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Dave Espe • Asad Aliweyd • Murshid Barud • John Kohner • Greg Lehman • Jeffery Saxton • Adam Seidel |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
