Mark Verhalen
Mark Verhalen is an at-large representative on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District school board in Wisconsin. First elected in 2011, Verhalen won a new term in the at-large general election on April 4, 2017.
Biography
Verhalen is the owner of Verhalen Farms and Verhalen Excavation. He is a graduate of the Oak Creek-Franklin district. He has served on the Oak Creek Storm Water committee, the MMSD Water Quality committee and the Oak Creek Citizens Action committee. Verhalen has also volunteered for Oak Creek Lions and Legion Post #434.[1][2]
Elections
2017
Two seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board of Education were up for at-large general election on April 4, 2017. In their bids for re-election to the board, incumbents Amy Mlot and Mark Verhalen defeated challengers Sean Kingston and Juli Murphy.[3][4]
Results
| Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, At-large General Election, 3-year terms, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Mark Verhalen Incumbent |
32.87% | 1,924 |
| Amy Mlot Incumbent |
30.63% | 1,793 |
| Juli Murphy | 20.16% | 1,180 |
| Sean Kingston | 16.33% | 956 |
| Total Votes | 5,853 | |
| Source: Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, "District News: Official Spring General Election Results," April 10, 2017 | ||
Funding
Verhalen filed an exemption statement detailing he would not spend or receive more than $2,000 toward his campaign. Because of this, he did not have to file additional campaign finance reports.[5]
Campaign themes
2017
Verhalen participated in the following survey conducted by South Now. The questions provided by South Now are bolded, and Verhalen's responses follow below.
1. What do you think are some of the biggest issues facing the district and how would you address them?
| “ | In the years to come, it is going to be challenging for the school district to maintain the broad curriculum and specialized classes that students will need to attend a four-year college. We need to be very mindful of monitoring and updating curriculum to meet those standards.[6] | ” |
| —Mark Verhalen (March 14, 2017)[7] | ||
2. Oak Creek is experiencing a development boom and Franklin has development in the works as well. With that likely brings more children to the district. Do you feel the district is ready for this influx in the years to come, or what do you think could be done to better serve these new and existing students?
| “ | With the addition of the ninth-grade center and Forest Ridge elementary school the district is prepared for the future student populous from both cities. Our school district has focused on the future needs to provide great opportunities for our students.[6] | ” |
| —Mark Verhalen (March 14, 2017)[7] | ||
3. What makes the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District stand out to you – why should parents want to have their child in this school district?
| “ | The Oak Creek-Franklin school district has standardized curriculum along with specific goals for faculty and students. The district has shown that we meet or exceed state recommendations. Students are very well prepared for all types of higher education.[6] | ” |
| —Mark Verhalen (March 14, 2017)[7] | ||
See also
- Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, Wisconsin
- Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District elections (2017)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, "Spring 2012 suburban mayoral candidate bios," March 25, 2012
- ↑ Oak Creek Now, "Incumbent Ruetz faces former alderman Verhalen in Oak Creek's 3rd District," March 17, 2015
- ↑ South Now, "A matter of choices: Enough candidates file to prompt races for spring elections," January 3, 2017
- ↑ Milwaukee County Election Commission, "Summary Report: Unofficial Results," accessed April 4, 2017
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Jill Bebeau, Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District" March 29, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Wauwatosa Now, "Oak Creek-Frankin Joint School District candidates discuss issues," March 14, 2017
| Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District elections in 2017 | |
| Milwaukee County, Wisconsin | |
| Election date: | April 4, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Amy Mlot • Incumbent, Mark Verhalen • Sean Kingston • Juli Murphy |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
