School District 27J elections (2017)
2019 →
← 2015 |
|---|
 |
|
|
| Enrollment (14-15) |
|
|
Four of the seven seats on the School District 27J Board of Education in Colorado were up for election on November 7, 2017. The District 2, 4, and 5 seats were up for general election to regular four-year terms, and the District 6 seat was up for special election to a two-year term.[1] Kevin Robert Kerber defeated Gary Mikes in the race for the open District 2 seat. In his bid for re-election to the District 4 seat, incumbent Blaine Nickeson defeated Greg Lee. Mandy Thomas defeated Kerrie Gutierrez for the open District 5 seat. District 6 incumbent Jennifer Venerable defeated Stanley Hiller.[2][3] Citizens of the school district also voted on a mill levy override question for the school district.[4][5][6]
Mikes, Nickeson, and Venerable participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of school board candidates. Click here to read their responses.
The 2017 election had a lower percentage of unopposed seats compared to the district's previous two elections. For information on election trends in the district, click here.
Elections
Voter and candidate information
The School District 27J Board of Education consists of seven members elected to four-year terms. Elections are held on a staggered basis so that three or four seats are up for election every odd-numbered year in November. Though members run for seats in specific geographic districts, elections are held at large.[7]
To qualify to run for school board, candidates had to be residents of the school district and registered voters for a minimum of 12 consecutive months before the election. They also could not have been convicted of a sexual offense against a child. To get on the ballot, school board candidates had to file nomination petitions containing 50 signatures of eligible voters in the school district by September 1, 2017.[8]
Colorado voters were allowed to register to vote through election day.[9] Photo identification was not required to vote in Colorado.[10]
Candidates and results
District 2
Results
| School District 27J, District 2 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Kevin Robert Kerber |
53.30% | 7,642 |
| Gary Mikes | 46.70% | 6,697 |
| Total Votes | 14,339 | |
| Source: Adams County Elections Office, "Official Results," accessed November 27, 2027 and Weld County Elections Office, "Election Summary Report: Final Official Results," accessed November 27, 2017 | ||
Candidates
Kevin Robert Kerber 
|
 Gary Mikes
|
Gregory Martin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| ||
District 4
Results
| School District 27J, District 4 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Blaine Nickeson Incumbent |
62.11% | 8,786 |
| Greg Lee | 37.89% | 5,359 |
| Total Votes | 14,145 | |
| Source: Adams County Elections Office, "Official Results," accessed November 27, 2017 and Weld County Elections Office, "Election Summary Report: Final Official Results," accessed November 27, 2017 | ||
Candidates
| Blaine Nickeson
|
Greg Lee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
District 5
Results
| School District 27J, District 5 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Mandy Thomas |
62.64% | 9,110 |
| Kerrie Gutierrez | 37.36% | 5,434 |
| Total Votes | 14,544 | |
| Source: Adams County Elections Office, "Official Results," accessed November 27, 2017 and Weld County Elections Office, "Election Summary Report: Final Official Results," accessed November 27, 2017 | ||
Candidates
| Kerrie Gutierrez | Mandy Thomas
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
||
District 6
Results
| School District 27J, District 6 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Jennifer Venerable Incumbent |
71.78% | 10,413 |
| Stanley Hiller | 28.22% | 4,093 |
| Total Votes | 14,506 | |
| Source: Adams County Elections Office, "Official Results," accessed November 27, 2017 and Weld County Elections Office, "Election Summary Report: Final Official Results," accessed November 27, 2017 | ||
Candidates
| Jennifer Venerable
|
Stanley Hiller | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional elections on the ballot
- See also: Colorado elections, 2017
The School District 27J Board of Education election shared the ballot with Brighton elections for mayor and city council as well as with a mill levy override question for the school district.[6][11]
Key deadlines
The following dates were key deadlines for the 2017 Colorado school board elections.[12][13]
Endorsements
Do you know of an official or organization that endorsed a candidate in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Campaign finance
Candidates received a total of $3,163.89 and spent a total of $4,291.01 in the election, according to the Colorado Secretary of State.[14]
| Candidate | Contributions | Expenditures | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 2 | |||
| Kevin Robert Kerber | $2,108.89 | $2,108.89 | $0.00 |
| Gary Mikes | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| District 4 | |||
| Blaine Nickeson | $0.00 | $864.11 | ($864.11) |
| Greg Lee | $0.00 | $313.44 | ($313.44) |
| District 5 | |||
| Kerrie Gutierrez | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Mandy Thomas | $500.00 | $451.10 | $48.90 |
| District 6 | |||
| Jennifer Venerable | $555.00 | $553.47 | $1.53 |
| Stanley Hiller | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Reporting requirements
School board candidates in Colorado were required to file three campaign finance reports. The reports were due on October 17, 2017, November 3, 2017, and December 7, 2017.[13]
Past elections
- See also: Past elections in School District 27J
To see results from past elections in School District 27J, click here.
What was at stake?
Issues in the election
Mill levy override question
In addition to choosing candidates for the board of education, citizens of the school district also voted on a mill levy override, or tax increase, question for the district. It was rejected by voters.[2][3] Voters last approved a tax increase for the district in 2000. The district asked for an increase five times after that, and voters rejected the increase each time.[6]
Voters did approve a bond for the district in 2015, but it was specifically for the district to expand due to overcrowding. The 2017 levy question asked for funds to increase salaries, hire more counselors, and purchase literacy resources.[6] The question appeared on the ballot as follows:
| “ | SHALL BRIGHTON SCHOOL DISTRICT 27J TAXES BE INCREASED $12 MILLION BEGINNING IN TAX COLLECTION YEAR 2018, AND BY WHATEVER AMOUNTS AS MAY BE GENERATED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY THE IMPOSITION OF AN ADDITIONAL MILL LEVY OF NOT TO EXCEED 12 MILLS, BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL SUCH TAX INCREASE BE GREATER THAN THE AMOUNT PERMITTED UNDER SECTION 22-54-108, C.R.S., BY THE COLLECTION OF AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES FOR DEPOSIT IN THE DISTRICT'S GENERAL FUND FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
WITH SUCH TAXES TO BE IN EXCESS OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUES THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE GENERAL FUND MILL LEVY PERMITTED UNDER STATE LAW WITHOUT SUCH INCREASE AND, TOGETHER WITH REVENUES FROM SPECIFIC OWNERSHIP TAXES ATTRIBUTABLE THERETO AND THE EARNINGS ON SUCH TAXES AND REVENUES, TO CONSTITUTE A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE AND SPENDING CHANGE UNDER, TO BE COLLECTED AND SPENT EACH YEAR WITHOUT LIMITATION BY THE REVENUE AND SPENDING LIMITS OF, AND WITHOUT AFFECTING THE DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO COLLECT AND SPEND OTHER REVENUES OR FUNDS UNDER, ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW? __Yes |
” |
| —School District 27J (2017)[16] | ||
Report a story for this election
Ballotpedia researches issues in school board elections across the United States, but information availability is a challenge for us in many school districts. Please contact us about the issues that impact your local school district. Note that not all submissions may meet Ballotpedia's coverage requirements for inclusion.
Candidate survey
|
|
Ballotpedia invites school board candidates to participate in its annual survey. |
Survey responses
Three candidates in this race participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of school board candidates. The following sections display the responses to the survey questions from District 2 challenger Gary Mikes, District 4 incumbent Blaine Nickeson, and District 6 incumbent Jennifer Venerable.
Hope to achieve
When asked what he hoped to achieve if elected to the school board, Mikes stated:
| “ | I have strong communication, problem solving and business skills to approach the challenges and establish solutions that plague the district. The quality people are the most important aspect of any organization and teachers are the key to the education excellence that all students deserve. I have seen many great teachers leave the district for various reasons, but the most prevalent is the pay discrepancy with surrounding districts. This extremely high turn over rate leads to large class sizes, teacher shortages and in my opinion, low academic test scores and lower district enrollment. Teacher compensation, retention and relationships will be my priority. As a businessman I bring fiscal responsibility. As a committed grandparent, citizen and employer I will bring an exemplary work ethic, integrity and a passion to see our young people succeed. My hope is to achieve a better education for the students, a well paid teaching staff that is proud to work for the district and a fair value for the taxpayers of the school district.[15] | ” |
| —Gary Mikes (September 28, 2017)[17] | ||
When asked what he hoped to achieve if elected to the school board, Nickeson stated:
| “ | I would like to continue to advocate for our kids, and see our academic growth continue.[15] | ” |
| —Blaine Nickeson (October 26, 2017)[18] | ||
When asked what she hoped to achieve if elected to the school board, Venerable stated:
| “ | I would like to continue supporting the great work our district is doing. I hope to continue increasing community involvement and communication, and encourage opportunities for kids to explore career and technical pathways. Anything I can do to support the district's work in motivating students to love learning - I am in![15] | ” |
| —Jennifer Venerable (September 29, 2017)[19] | ||
Ranking the issues
The candidates were asked to rank the following issues by importance in the school district, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. This table displays their rankings:
| Issue importance ranking | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issue | Mikes' ranking (District 2) |
Nickeson's ranking (District 4) |
Venerable's ranking (District 6) | |
| Expanding arts education | ||||
| Improving relations with teachers | ||||
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | ||||
| Improving post-secondary readiness | ||||
| Closing the achievement gap | ||||
| Improving education for special needs students | ||||
| Expanding school choice options | ||||
Positions on the issues
The candidates were asked to answer nine multiple choice and short answer questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. A link to their responses can be found below.
- Gary Mikes' survey responses
- Blaine Nickeson's survey responses
- Jennifer Venerable's survey responses
Election trends
- See also: School boards in session: 2015 in brief
The 2017 School District 27J Board of Education election had a lower percentage of unopposed seats and a higher average number of candidates running per seat compared to the district's two previous elections. Eight formal candidates ran for four seats in 2017 for an average of two candidates per seat, and no seats were unopposed. In both 2013 and 2015, 60 percent of the seats on the ballot were unopposed. The 2013 election had an average of 1.6 candidates per seat, and the 2015 election had an average of 1.8 candidates per seat.
| School board election trends | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Candidates per seat | Unopposed seats | Incumbents running for re-election | Incumbent success rate | Seats won by newcomers | |
| School District 27J | ||||||
| 2017 | 2.00* | 0.00% | 50.00% | 100.00% | 50.00% | |
| 2015 | 1.80 | 60.00% | 80.00% | 100.00% | 20.00% | |
| 2013 | 1.60* | 60.00% | 60.00% | 100.00% | 40.00% | |
| Colorado | ||||||
| 2015 | 1.77 | 30.77% | 55.38% | 83.33% | 53.85% | |
| United States | ||||||
| 2015 | 1.72 | 35.95% | 70.37% | 82.66% | 40.81% | |
| *Write-in candidates were not counted toward these statistics. | ||||||
About the district
- See also: School District 27J, Colorado
School District 27J is mostly located in Adams County in north-central Colorado. Parts of the district are also located in Weld County. The county seat of Adams County is Brighton. Adams County was home to an estimated 498,187 residents in 2016, according to the United States Census Bureau.[20] The district was the 16th-largest school district in the state in the 2014-2015 school year and served 17,129 students.[21]
Demographics
Adams County underperformed compared to Colorado as a whole in terms of higher education achievement between 2011 and 2015. The United States Census Bureau found that 22.2 percent of county residents aged 25 years and older had attained a bachelor's degree, compared to 38.1 percent of state residents. The median household income in the county was $58,946, compared to $60,629 statewide. The poverty rate in the county was 12.8 percent, while the state as a whole had a poverty rate of 11.5 percent.[20]
| Racial Demographics, 2016[20] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race | Adams County (%) | Colorado (%) |
| White | 86.5 | 87.5 |
| Black or African American | 3.8 | 4.5 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| Asian | 4.2 | 3.3 |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Two or More Races | 3.1 | 3.0 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39.6 | 21.3 |
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.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms School District 27J Colorado election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| School District 27J | Colorado | School Boards |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ School District 27J, "Board Members," accessed February 24, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 State of Colorado, "Adams County Election Results," accessed November 8, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Weld County Elections Office, "Election Summary Report: Final Unofficial Results," accessed November 8, 2017
- ↑ State of Colorado, "Adams County Election Results," accessed November 8, 2017
- ↑ School District 27J, "2017 School District 27J Board of Education Candidate Information," accessed September 2, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Chalkbeat Colorado, "Colorado school districts taking another shot at tax measures after past defeats," September 7, 2017
- ↑ School District 27J, "2017 School District 27J Board of Education,"accessed August 29, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Association of School Boards, "2017 Elections School Board Candidate Guide," accessed August 29, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Voter Registration FAQs," accessed August 29, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Acceptable Forms of Identification," accessed August 29, 2017
- ↑ Brighton Elections & Voting, "Candidates for 2017 Election," accessed September 6, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2017 Election Calendar," accessed August 28, 2017
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "2017 Biennial School Election Calendar," accessed August 28, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "TRACER: Candidate Search," accessed December 18, 2017
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Adams County Elections, "Official Ballot for Coordinated Election: Adams County, Colorado - Tuesday, November 7, 2017," accessed October 12, 2017
- ↑ Ballotpedia's school board candidate survey, "Gary Mikes responses," September 28, 2017
- ↑ Ballotpedia's school board candidate survey, "Blaine Nickeson responses," October 26, 2017
- ↑ Ballotpedia's school board candidate survey, "Jennifer Venerable responses," September 29, 2017
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 United States Census Bureau, "QuickFacts: Adams County, Colorado; Colorado," accessed August 30, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data, file ccd_lea_052_1414_w_0216161a, 2014-2015," accessed November 16, 2016
| School District 27J elections in 2017 | |
| Adams County, Colorado | |
| Election date: | November 7, 2017 |
| Candidates: | District 2: • Kevin Robert Kerber • Gary Mikes • Gregory Martin (write-in candidate) District 4: • Incumbent, Blaine Nickeson • Greg Lee District 5: • Kerrie Gutierrez • Mandy Thomas District 6: • Incumbent, Jennifer Venerable • Stanley Hiller |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
