Barbara Feeney
Barbara Feeney is the Area III representative on the Oregon School District school board in Wisconsin. First elected in 2014, Feeney won a new term in the by-district general election on April 4, 2017.[1]
Biography
Feeney worked as a transportation and environmental planner for Short Elliott Hendrickson from August 2007 to November 2016. She worked as a transportation planner for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation from December 2000 to June 2006. Feeney earned a master's degree in policy and public administration from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay.[2]
Elections
2017
- See also: Oregon School District elections (2017)
Three seats on the Oregon School District school board were up for by-district general election on April 4, 2017. Area II incumbent Charles Uphoff did not file to run for re-election, leaving the seat open for a newcomer. Courtney Odorico ran unopposed and won that seat. In her bid for re-election to Area III, incumbent Barbara Feeney also ran unopposed and won another term. Area IV incumbent Gwen Maitzen was defeated by challenger Tim LeBrun.[3][4]
Results
| Oregon School District, Area III General Election, 3-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Barbara Feeney Incumbent (unopposed) |
99.41% | 2,509 |
| Write-in votes | 0.59% | 15 |
| Total Votes | 2,524 | |
| Source: Dane County Clerk, "2017 Spring Election Official Canvass," accessed May 2, 2017 | ||
Funding
Feeney filed an exemption statement detailing she would not spend or receive more than $2,000 toward her campaign. Because of this, she did not have to file additional campaign finance reports.[5]
2014
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Barbara Feeney |
55.3% | 1,961 | |
| Nonpartisan | Lee J. Christensen | 44.6% | 1,581 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.1% | 3 | |
| Total Votes | 3,545 | |||
| Source: Dane County Clerk's Office, "2014 Spring Election Official Canvass," accessed December 22, 2016 | ||||
Campaign themes
2017
Feeney participated in the following survey conducted by the League of Women Voters of Dane County. The questions provided by the League of Women Voters are bolded, and Feeney's responses follow below.
What in your professional and community background qualifies you for this elective office?
| “ | I have had 25 years of experience in the area of planning, policy, and project management which has prepared me to work in a complex problem-solving environment. This has included many opportunities to work with the public, hearing concerns and balancing competing needs. While serving on the school board for the last three years, I have learned much about issues specific to public education and been part of succesful initiatives that improve the education environment for our students.[6] | ” |
| —Barbara Feeney (2017)[7] | ||
What are the most important budget issues facing your school district, and what are your ideas for addressing them?
| “ | The decline in state support for public schools in recent years is an on-going challenge. The School district has obtained support from local taxpayers for building improvements and to improve teacher pay. We must continually demonstrate that we are using tax dollars wisely, actively advocate for increased state lsupport and ask our constituents to be advocates also. The possibility of disruption to the US health care environment may create a very unstable cost situation for health insurance; at this point it is difficult to predict what we will face.[6] | ” |
| —Barbara Feeney (2017)[7] | ||
What criteria would you use to evaluate proposals for a new public charter school in your district?
| “ | Is the proposed school meeting a need that is not or cannot be met by existing schools? Would the proposed school accept all students that are interested in attending, including students with special needs? |
” |
| —Barbara Feeney (2017)[7] | ||
With fewer journalists dedicated to covering education issues, what do you see as your role in advocacy with the community?
| “ | School board members must be well informed on the challenges facing our schools and students and be willing to explain the source of the challenges, and advocate for our schools whenever given the opportunity. In addition to the challenges posed by decreased state support, schools and classroom teachers are impacted by larger societal changes that affect our students' ability to focus and to learn. We must be prepared to articulate those issues to members of the public, especially those who no longer have school-age children.[6] | ” |
| —Barbara Feeney (2017)[7] | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Barbara Feeney," accessed February 21, 2017
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Barbara Feeney," accessed March 28, 2017
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Jayne Wick, Oregon School District," January 11, 2017
- ↑ Dane County Clerk, "2017 Spring Election Unofficial Canvass," accessed April 4, 2017
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Jayne Wick, Oregon School District" April 3, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 League of Women Voters of Dane County, "Oregon School Board," accessed March 28, 2017
| Oregon School District elections in 2017 | |
| Dane County, Wisconsin | |
| Election date: | April 4, 2017 |
| Candidates: | Area II: • Courtney Odorico Area III: • Incumbent, Barbara Feeney Area IV: • Incumbent, Gwen Maitzen • Tim LeBrun |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
