Natasha Newcomb
Natasha Newcomb was the District 3 representative on the Des Moines School Board in Iowa. She was first elected to the seat in the general election on September 8, 2015.[1][2] Newcomb resigned on December 31, 2018.[3]
Biography
Newcomb works as a contract coordinator for Affiliates Management Company. She has a variety of professional political experinece including working as a legislative assistant and a field organizer. She serves on the Des Moines Neighborhood Revitalization Board and the Housing Services Board. Newcomb obtained her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Iowa. She went on to earn her juris doctor from Drake University.[4]
Board membership
2015-2017
The Des Moines school board voted unanimously on 96.35 percent of its motions between the annual organization meeting on September 15, 2015, and the regular board meeting on July 11, 2017. The voting data indicated that Rob Barron, Connie Boesen, Cindy Elsbernd, Dionna Langford, and Teree Caldwell-Johnson were the governing majority on the board, and Natasha Newcomb was the sole member of a minority faction. Heather Anderson did not vote consistently enough with Newcomb or the majority to be considered part of either group.[5]
Elections
2015
Four of the seven seats on the Des Moines Public Schools School Board were up for election on September 8, 2015. The available seats included an at-large seat with a four-year term, seats with four-year terms in Districts 1 and 3, and a seat with a two-year term in District 2.
Prior to 2013, all representatives on the school board represented the district at-large. Voters approved a proposal to incorporate four district representatives on the school board in 2011. In 2013, residents voted for representatives in District 2 and District 4. In 2015, residents voted for a representative in District 1 and District 3. Toussaint Cheatom won the election for the District 2 seat in 2013, but he resigned due to health concerns. Nathan Blake was appointed to the open seat. The District 2 seat was open in 2015 for a two-year term.[6]
Incumbent Cindy Elsbernd defeated Royce Turner for the at-large seat. Newcomers Heather Anderson and Shane Schulte ran for the one available seat in District 1. Anderson defeated Schulte. Dionna Langford defeated challengers Ed Linebach and Edgar Ortiz for the two-year term seat in District 2. In District 3, Rocio Hermosillo was defeated by Natasha Newcomb. Incumbents Nathan Blake, Bill Howard, and Pat Sweeney did not run for re-election.[7][8][9]
Results
This election was held September 8, 2015.
| Des Moines Public Schools, District 3, 4-Year Term, General Election, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Natasha Newcomb |
62.1% | 357 |
| Rocio Hermosillo | 37.9% | 218 |
| Total Votes | 575 | |
| Source: Polk County Auditor's Office, "Regular School Election," accessed November 12, 2015 | ||
Funding
Newcomb reported $2,245.00 in contributions and $2,183.63 in expenditures to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, which left her campaign with $61.37 on hand during the election.[10]
Endorsements
Newcomb received official endorsements from the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, IBEW Local Union #347, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Iowa Council #61 and the Des Moines Education Association.[11][12]
Campaign themes
2015
Candidate website
Newcomb's campaign website listed the following campaign themes for 2015:
Community Engagement
| “ | The key to implementing effective and lasting policies is to have procedures that encourage collaboration. It is the privilege of each board member to have the responsibility of establishing district-wide policies that reflect the priorities of our community’s commitment to the success of each student. Honoring our promise to our students means providing a legitimate and meaningful pathway for all stakeholders to participate at each step of the decision-making process. I will work hard to ensure that communication channels between the residents of District 3 and the School District are open and transparent. [13] | ” |
| —Natasha Newcomb's campaign website, (2015), [14] | ||
Educational Resources
| “ | Spending over $400 million a year leaves no question about the importance of our students’ education. Adopting a responsible budget sets the foundation for an environment conducive to learning. Educational resources, however, are not limited to classroom materials such as paper, pencils, books and access to technology; they include labor, educators, administrative personnel, parents, students and all other residents. Only by working together will we be able to achieve the best possible budget. [13] | ” |
| —Natasha Newcomb's campaign website, (2015), [14] | ||
Diversity in Education
| “ | We live in an increasingly connected world. Schools are in the best position to expose students to different cultures, experiences and perspectives. By celebrating diversity, developing leadership skills and providing a safe environment to explore their personal contributions, we prepare our students to lead in the 21st century. [13] | ” |
| —Natasha Newcomb's campaign website, (2015), [14] | ||
See also
- Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa
- Des Moines Public Schools elections (2015)
- Newcomers and incumbents share the victories in Iowa's largest school district elections (September 9, 2015)
- Analysis of incumbency advantage in the 2014 school board elections
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Des Moines Public Schools
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook page
- LinkedIn page
Footnotes
- ↑ Polk County Auditor's Office, "Regular School Election," accessed September 8, 2015
- ↑ Des Moines Public Schools, "2015 School Board Candidates," accessed August 3, 2015
- ↑ Des Moines Public Schools, "School Board Vacancy: Filling the District 3 School Board Seat," accessed September 20, 2019
- ↑ Natasha Newcomb, School Board, District 3, "About," accessed August 18, 2015
- ↑ Des Moines Public Schools, "Meetings," accessed August 8, 2017
- ↑ Des Moines Public School, "School Board Election Information," accessed March 27, 2015
- ↑ Polk County Auditor's Office, "Regular School Election," accessed September 8, 2015
- ↑ Des Moines Public Schools, "2015 School Board Candidates," accessed August 3, 2015
- ↑ Office of the Polk County Auditor, "Candidate Guide," accessed March 11, 2015
- ↑ Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, "IECDB State/Local Campaign Disclosure Reports," accessed February 2, 2016
- ↑ Iowa Labor News, "South Central Iowa Federation of Labor makes election endorsements," August 13, 2015
- ↑ Facebook, "Natasha Newcomb for Des Moines School Board, District 3," accessed August 18, 2015
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Natasha Newcomb, School Board, District 3, "Priorities," accessed August 18, 2015
| 2015 Des Moines Public Schools Elections | |
| Polk County, Iowa | |
| Election date: | September 8, 2015 |
| Candidates: | At-large: Incumbent, Cindy Elsbernd • Royce Turner District 1: Heather Anderson • Shane Schulte |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
