Starr Marsett

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Starr Marsett

Prior offices

Anchorage School District Board of Education Seat B

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Education

Bachelor's

Northern Michigan University

Contact

Personal website

Starr Marsett was a member of the Anchorage School District School Board in Alaska, representing Seat B. Marsett assumed office in 2016. Marsett left office on January 5, 2021.

Marsett ran for re-election to the Anchorage School District School Board to represent Seat B in Alaska. Marsett won in the general election on April 2, 2019.

Although the Anchorage School Board is nonpartisan, Marsett identifies as a Democrat.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Marsett has her bachelor's degree in business management from Northern Michigan University. She worked extensively in the banking industry. At the time of her tenure, Marsett was a realtor. Marsett has also served as PTA president for several school chapters, in addition to serving on numerous committees within the Anchorage School District.

She previously served in the military where she met her husband, Dave, now a retired Air Force veteran. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

Elections

2019

See also: Anchorage School District, Alaska, elections (2019)

General election

General election for Anchorage School District Board of Education Seat B

Incumbent Starr Marsett defeated David Nees and Ronald Stafford in the general election for Anchorage School District Board of Education Seat B on April 2, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Starr Marsett (Nonpartisan)	51.5	29,229
		David Nees (Nonpartisan)	38.4	21,774
	Submit photo	Ronald Stafford (Nonpartisan)	8.7	4,941
		Other/Write-in votes	1.4	792

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 56,736
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Paul Hatcher (Nonpartisan)

2016

See also: Anchorage School District elections (2016)

Two of the seven seats on the Anchorage School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. While members of the board are elected at large, they run for specified seats. Incumbent Bettye Davis faced challenger Brent Hughes for Seat A. Seat B incumbent Eric Croft did not file to run for re-election. Challengers David Nees, Starr Marsett, and Kay Schuster competed for Croft's seat. Davis defeated Hughes for Seat A, and Marsett won out for Seat B.

Results

Anchorage School District, Seat B General Election, 3-Year Term, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Starr Marsett	34.74%	14,839
Kay Schuster	34.58%	14,772
David Nees	29.47%	12,587
Write-in votes	1.21%	516
Total Votes		42,714
Source: Anchorage, Alaska, "Election Summary Report," accessed May 18, 2016

Funding

Marsett reported $15,895.00 in contributions and $12,649.57 in expenditures to the Alaska Public Offices Commission, which left her campaign with $3,245.43 on hand during the election.

Endorsements

Marsett received no official endorsements for her campaign during the election.

2015

See also: Anchorage School District elections (2015)

The general election in the Anchorage School District featured three seats up for election on April 7, 2015. Seat E incumbent Kathleen Plunkett faced challenger Derrick Slaughter. In the Seat F race, incumbent Tam Agosti-Gisler‌‌ competed against challenger David Nees. Two newcomers, Starr Marsett and Elisa Snelling, faced off for Seat G, since incumbent Natasha von Imhof did not file for re-election.

Plunkett defeated Slaughter for Seat E. Agosti-Gisler also won re-election to Seat F by defeating Nees. Snelling defeated Marsett for Seat G.

Results

Anchorage School District, Seat G General Election, 3-year term, 2015
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Elisa Snelling	51.6%	22,532
	Nonpartisan	Starr Marsett	47.2%	20,581
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	1.2%	528
Total Votes				43,641
Source: Municipality of Anchorage, "Election Summary Report," accessed May 26, 2015

Funding

Marsett reported $22,917.30 in contributions and $21,771.17 in expenditures to the Alaska Public Offices Commission, which left her campaign with $1,146.13 on hand during the election.

Endorsements

Marsett received endorsements from the following organizations:

• Anchorage Education Association
• Alaska AFL-CIO
• Alaska Laborers Local 341
• Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT
• Alaska Women for Political Action
• Carpenters Local 1231
• Operating Engineers Local 302
• IBEW Local 1547
• IUPAT-Painters & Allied Trades, Local 1959

2012

Anchorage School District, Seat G General Election, 3-year term, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Natasha Von Imhof	56.5%	31,621
	Nonpartisan	Starr Marsett	42.4%	23,697
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	1.1%	603
Total Votes				55,921
Source: Municipality of Anchorage, "Election History," accessed February 10, 2014

Campaign themes

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Starr Marsett did not complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

2015

Marsett provided the following statement regarding her campaign themes on her website:

“	Budget: When developing our school budgets I want to ensure that stakeholders—parents, businesses and teachers, have direct input. Our school budgets should reflect our community values. If you want to know where someone’s values really are, don’t just listen to what they say—find out what they’re willing to budget. As a longtime Alaskan, I feel pretty safe in saying that our community values are to produce a student population and workforce that is prepared for 21st century jobs and careers. Instilled in their education should come a lifelong love of learning and a desire to achieve. Preparing our students for higher education, whether it’s a four-year institution or perhaps an apprenticeship program, should set them up for success, as well as set our community and businesses for success. Our ASD budget should reflect those values. My values incorporate this vision and that is one reason why my priority is keeping classroom sizes small so kids get the one-on-one that they need. We need to make sure that the dollars we do have, go into the classroom. Communication within the Anchorage School District: Teachers, Parents & Administrators: Teachers need to understand why they are being asked to do certain things in the classroom if those undertakings no longer make sense. Teachers should be able to communicate to the district without fear of repercussions. One idea is to bring in two teachers each quarter, from various schools, to meet and discuss challenges and concerns. Suggestions and recommendations are given to the superintendent with no names attached. There needs to be buy-in with processes and direct communication with teachers and school administrators. Recruiting and Retaining Teachers: Many of our UAA graduates are taking teaching positions outside of Alaska. We need an incentive program to hire and keep our UAA graduates here, or for our kids who go Outside for a higher-ed teaching degree, and want to come home to Alaska. Recruiting and retaining teachers is becoming not only our challenge, but also a national challenge. More districts will be fighting over the same teachers. Preparing Our Students: ASD needs to provide more information to our high school students about the opportunities in Alaska for them outside of a college degree--such as the various apprenticeship programs as Alaska is facing a shortage of skilled laborers. Parental and Community Involvement: As a school board member, I’ll reach out to parents and local organizations to bridge the gap between parents and schools. I’ll also advocate for a Community Council that is outside the purview of the Anchorage School District, with representatives from nonprofits and community organizations that include our military families, our native organizations, business groups, parent groups, etc.	”
—Starr Marsett's campaign website (2015)

See also

2019 Elections

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Government

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Newsletters

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• Anchorage School District, Alaska
• Anchorage School District elections (2015)
• Anchorage School District elections (2016)

External links

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