Cincinnati Public Schools elections (2013)
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Method of election Elections What was at stake? Key deadlines Additional elections External links References |
Cincinnati Public Schools |
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Four seats were up for election on the Cincinnati Board of Education. Melanie Bates, Ericka Copeland-Dansby, Elisa Hoffman and Daniel Minera defeated five challengers to win four at-large seats on November 5, 2013.
The district faced changing state standards for public schools embodied in the annual Ohio School Report Cards. Cincinnati Public Schools scored a C on the 2012-2013 report for overall performance and met 45.8% of the state's performance indicators. Superintendent Mary Ronan and board members voiced support for strong standards, but also raised concerns that charter and private schools were measured by different standards.[1][2]
About the district
- See also: Cincinnati Public Schools, Ohio
Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County and located in southwestern Ohio. The city's population was 296,946 according to the 2010 U.S. Census.[3]
Demographics
Cincinnati underperformed compared to the rest of Ohio in terms of median income and poverty rate while outpacing the state in higher education attainment. The 2010 U.S. Census found that 31% of Cincinnati residents over 25 years old held undergraduate degrees compared to a 24.5% rate for the state of Ohio. Cincinnati had a median income of $34,104 in 2010 compared to $48,071 for Ohio. The poverty rate for Cincinnati was 27.4% in 2010 compared to an 14.8% rate for the rest of the state.[3]
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Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Method of board member selection
The Cincinnati Board of Education consists of seven members who are elected at-large to four-year terms. There was no primary election on September 10, 2013 and the general election was held on November 5, 2013. Four seats on the board were up for election in 2013 and three seats were on the ballot on November 3, 2015.[6]
Candidates for the Cincinnati Board of Education must be 18 years old, a resident of the district and not hold city office concurrent to board service. The Hamilton County Board of Elections required a $30 filing fee as well as at least 300 signatures by the filing deadline on August 7, 2013.[6]
Elections
2013
Candidates
- Melanie Bates
- Incumbent
- Graduate, Xavier University and Northern Kentucky
- Hospital development liaison, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network
- Ericka Copeland-Dansby
- Graduate, Wilberforce University and Xavier University
- Owner, SuccessStrategies
- Marcia A. Futel
- Graduate, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Co-owner, Chuck Futel and Associates
- Martha Good
- Graduate, Skidmore College and Brown University
- Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Cincinnati
- Elisa Hoffman
- Graduate, Colgate Universitsy
- Recruiter, Teach for America
- Daniel Minera
- Pastor, Amigo Ministries
- Sally O'Callaghan
- Graduate, Ohio University
- Former teacher
- Betsy Shank
- Retired teacher
- Victoria Straughn
- Clinical studies assistant, University of Cincinnati
Results
| Cincinnati Board of Education, At-large, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Melanie Bates Incumbent |
18.1% | 27,469 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ericka Copeland-Dansby |
14.8% | 22,455 | |
| Nonpartisan | Elisa Hoffman |
13.8% | 20,861 | |
| Nonpartisan | Daniel Minera |
10.9% | 16,537 | |
| Nonpartisan | Marcia A. Futel | 10.1% | 15,368 | |
| Nonpartisan | Betsy Shank | 9.7% | 14,752 | |
| Nonpartisan | Martha Good | 9.2% | 13,909 | |
| Nonpartisan | Sally O'Callaghan | 8.3% | 12,621 | |
| Nonpartisan | Victoria Straughn | 5% | 7,540 | |
| Total Votes | 151,512 | |||
| Source: Hamilton County, Ohio Board of Elections, "Official Results," accessed December 13, 2013 | ||||
Endorsements
On October 14, 2013, The Cincinnati Enquirer endorsed Melanie Bates, Ericka Copeland-Dansby, Marcia A. Futel and Elisa Hoffman.[7]
Campaign finance
Candidates received a total of $3,773.42 during this election, according to the Ohio Secretary of State.[8]
| Candidate | Contributions |
|---|---|
| Melanie Bates | - |
| Ericka Copeland-Dansby | - |
| Marcia A. Futel | $100.00 |
| Martha Good | $73.42 |
| Elisa Hoffman | $3,500.00 |
| Daniel Minera | - |
| Sally O'Callaghan | - |
| Betsy Shank | $100.00 |
| Victoria Straughn | - |
The Brighter Future Fund PAC reported $17,334.05 in ad spending to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on October 23, 2013. This filing covered television ads on WLWT supporting Ericka Copeland-Dansby and Elisa Hoffman between October 28 and November 4.[9][10]
Forums
The Northside Community Council hosted a forum featuring all nine candidates for the board on October 17, 2013. The candidates discussed their views on the district's academic performance levels. Incumbent Melanie Bates stated that board members should pursue policies similar to the $1 billion improvement project undertaken over the past decade. Sally O'Callaghan advocated for universal preschools throughout the district while Victoria Straughn said she wanted fewer administrative rules that she alleged deterred access to Community Learning Centers. Daniel Minera said that poverty was a major cause of poor academic performance and advocated for increased resources to help students in low-income families. Ericka Copeland-Dansby, Martha Good and Elisa Hoffman stated the need for greater community involvement in board discussions rather than a shift in policy. Marcia A. Futel said more analysis was needed to determine why academic performance was struggling. Betsy Shank said that improvements in student performance could strengthen public schools while attracting families away from charters and private schools.[11]
Past elections
2011
| Cincinnati Board of Education, At-large, November 8, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Eve Bolton Incumbent |
32.5% | 44,714 | |
| Nonpartisan | A. Chris Nelms Incumbent |
27.5% | 37,874 | |
| Nonpartisan | Alexander Kuhns |
22% | 30,276 | |
| Nonpartisan | Mary Welsh Schlueter | 18% | 24,759 | |
| Total Votes | 137,623 | |||
| Source: Hamilton County Board of Elections | ||||
What was at stake?
Incumbent Melanie Bates was the only incumbent member of the board seeking re-election in 2013. Eileen Cooper Reed and Catherine Ingram did not file for election and Vanessa White sought a seat on the Cincinnati City Council. Bates faced eight other candidates for four available seats on the board.
Key deadlines
The following dates were key deadlines for the Cincinnati Board of Education elections in 2013:[12]
| Deadline | Event |
|---|---|
| August 7, 2013 | Last day to file nominating petitions for local nonpartisan races |
| October 24, 2013 | Filing deadline for pre-election expense reports |
| November 5, 2013 | Election day |
| November 26, 2013 | Certification of election results by county officials |
| December 13, 2013 | Filing deadline for post-election expense reports |
Additional elections on the ballot
The Cincinnati Board of Education elections shared the ballot with other local and county measures. Voters in Cincinnati cast ballots for mayor and nine seats on the City Council. The ballot also featured three seats on the Hamilton County Educational Services Center Board and one seat on the Hamilton County Municipal Court. Voters also decided on two proposed tax levies for zoo and infrastructure improvements as well as an amendment to the Cincinnati City Charter that adjusts pensions for city employees.[6][13]
See also
- Ohio
- Cincinnati Public Schools, Ohio
- List of school board elections in 2013
- Hamilton County, Ohio ballot measures
- Financial policies, education standards at stake in November school board elections
- School board election wrap-up: Incumbents re-elected overwhelmingly in November 5 elections
- School board elections review: Voters opt for experience over new blood in nation's largest school districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Local 12, "Ohio's school report cards are in," August 23, 2013
- ↑ Ohio Department of Education, "2012-2013 Report Card for Cincinnati Public Schools," accessed September 12, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 U.S. Census, "Quick Facts: Cincinnati," accessed September 13, 2013
- ↑ Hamilton County Board of Elections, "Election Results," accessed September 13, 2013
- ↑ Smart Voter, "President Contests for Hamilton County," accessed September 13, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Hamilton County Board of Elections, "2013 Local Elected Officials and Filing Requirements," accessed September 12, 2013
- ↑ Cincinnati Enquirer, "ENDORSEMENT: Leading the public school system," October 14, 2013
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Elections & Voting: Campaign Finance," accessed December 26, 2013
- ↑ Political Ad Sleuth, "Ad filings in Cincinnati, OH," November 4, 2013
- ↑ Federal Communications Commission, "Agreement Form for Political Candidate Advertisements," October 23, 2013
- ↑ WCPO, "CPS board candidates want to turn around poorest performers," October 18, 2013
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "2013 Election Calendar," accessed September 12, 2013
- ↑ Hamilton County Board of Elections, "Hamilton County Candidates and Issues List," accessed September 13, 2013
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