Matthew Stephens (South Dakota)
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Matthew "Matt" T. Stephens is the Area 1 representative on the Rapid City Area Board of Education in South Dakota. First elected in 2012, he won a second term in the general election on June 2, 2015.
In March 2015, Stephens and the other six sitting board members unanimously approved an opt-out that would allow the district to raise an addition $6 million a year in property tax levies for five years. A citizen group gathered sufficient signatures to place the board's decision on the 2015 ballot. Supporters of the opt out also organized to campaign for its approval at the polls. Ultimately, the opt-out was defeated.
Following his re-election Stephens will join the other board members in the process of selecting a new superintendent for the 2016-2017 school year, following Superintendent Tim Mitchell's announcement of his resignation.
Biography
Stephens is an attorney and runs his own law firm, Stephens Law Office, which he opened in 1994. He earned a B.S. in business administration with an emphasis in economics from the University of South Dakota and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He previously served in the South Dakota Army National Guard, exiting at the rank of First Lieutenant.[1]
Stephens is a graduate of Rapid City Central High School. His three children all attended or are currently attending the school, as well.[1]
Elections
2015
Opposition
Three of the seven seats on the Rapid City Area Board of Education were up for election on June 2, 2015. Area 1 incumbent Matthew Stephens, Area 2 incumbent Sheryl Kirkeby and Area 7 incumbent Laura Schad sought re-election. Stephens defeated challenger Richard Kriebel, and Schad lost to her challenger, Katharine Thomas. Kirkeby won re-election unopposed.[2]
Results
| Rapid City Area School District, Area 1 General Election, 3-year term, 2015 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Matthew Stephens Incumbent |
56.1% | 1,532 | |
| Nonpartisan | Richard Kriebel | 43.9% | 1,200 | |
| Total Votes | 2,732 | |||
| Source: Pennington County Election and Voting Information, "June 2, 2015 Combined City/School Election (Rapid City/Hill City): Unofficial Final Results," June 2, 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
Stephens reported $1,615.00 in contributions and $1,538.09 in expenditures to the Rapid City Area School District, which left his campaign with $76.91 on hand in the election.[3]
Endorsements
Stephens was endorsed by the Rapid City Education Association.[4]
2012
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Matthew Stephens |
61.1% | 874 | |
| Nonpartisan | Jon Brue | 38.9% | 556 | |
| Total Votes | 1,430 | |||
| Source: Pennington County, "2012 June 5 Primary Results Summary," June 6, 2012 | ||||
Campaign themes
2015
Stephens provided the following responses to questions from the Rapid City Journal. The paper's questions are in bold.
| “ | Why are you running for this office? I remain pleased with the quality of my Rapid City public school education and the doors it has opened for me. Three years ago I ran in part out of curiosity as to the quality of education still being offered, with an eye toward seeing how I might improve upon it. I am seeking re-election to continue protecting all that is great about our district and improving it where possible, all during a challenging budgetary time. The district and board, I feel, are on the verge of great accomplishment, and I wish to be part of it.
What strengths do you possess that qualify you to serve on a governing body? My entire K-12 education was here in the public schools. I earned a business degree from the University of South Dakota, a law degree from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, and a commission with the South Dakota Army National Guard. I am the sole proprietor of Stephens Law Office.[5] |
” |
| —Matthew Stephens (2015)[6] | ||
2012
In his first campaign for the school board, Stephens highlighted his legal experience as a practicing attorney and the fact that he had children in district schools. He described his professional experience and how it would apply to the board, saying, “Day-to-day problem-solving is what we do all the time, and that’s really what we do on the board."[7]
Stephens also emphasized his belief in the need for a skeptical mindset on the board, saying:
| “ | We throw the terms around, and we all just kind of latch on. … Maybe we shouldn’t believe everything that's said to us. There are all kinds of studies out there. I think we need more skepticism on the board.[5] | ” |
| —Matthew Stephens, (2012)[7] | ||
Recent news
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See also
- Rapid City Area School District, South Dakota
- Rapid City Area School District elections (2015)
- Incumbent & opt-out defeated; Rapid City school district's funding uncertain (June 3, 2015)
- What's on your ballot? (June 2, 2015)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rapid City Area Schools, "Board of Education Members," accessed May 20, 2015
- ↑ Margaret Koenig, "Phone conversation with Kathy Lewis, Rapid City Area Schools Business Office," April 1, 2015
- ↑ Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Kathy Lewis, Rapid City Area Schools Business Office," June 2, 2015
- ↑ Rapid City Journal, "Rapid City mayoral candidates differ on business and growth climate," May 15, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Rapid City Journal, "Rapid City Area Schools Board, Area 1 incumbent Matt Stephens," May 29, 2015
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Rapid City Journal, "Stephens touts legal experience in bid for board," May 25, 2012
| 2015 Rapid City Area School District Elections | |
| Pennington County, South Dakota | |
| Election date: | June 2, 2015 |
| Candidates: | Area 1: Incumbent, Matthew Stephens • Richard Kriebel
Area 2: Incumbent, Sheryl Kirkeby Area 7: Incumbent, Laura Schad • Katharine Thomas |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
