Thomas Wicke

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Thomas Wicke

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 7, 2023

Education

Bachelor's

University of Wyoming, 1995

Ph.D

University of California, Irvine, 2008

Personal

Birthplace

Yuba City, Calif.

Religion

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Profession

President/CEO

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Thomas Wicke ran for election to the Jeffco Board of Education to represent District 3 in Colorado. He lost in the general election on November 7, 2023.

Wicke completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Thomas Wicke was born in Yuba City, California. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wyoming in 1995 and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine in 2008. His career experience includes working as a President/CEO.

Elections

2023

See also: Jeffco Public Schools, Colorado, elections (2023)

General election

General election for Jeffco Board of Education District 3

Michelle Applegate defeated Thomas Wicke in the general election for Jeffco Board of Education District 3 on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michelle Applegate (Nonpartisan)	58.5	105,449
		Thomas Wicke (Nonpartisan)	41.5	74,779

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 180,228
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Wicke received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Wicke's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.

• Jefferson County, Colo., Republican Party
• Colorado Conservative Patriot Alliance
• Smart Choice Colorado
• Darcy Schoening - Frmr. El Paso Cnty. Moms for Liberty Chair

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Thomas Wicke completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wicke's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a product of and champion for public schools -from kindergarten (Ventia Elementary) to my doctorate (UC, Irvine). My wife is an award winning and loved Jeffco teacher, I have three children who have been students of Jeffco Schools. Professionally I am president of a private healthcare college. I have a proven record of turning schools around (current school is recognized for excellence by our national accreditor, by Gov. Polis and was campus of the year within our system which includes colleges across the country). We place our students (which means they graduate and pass licensure exams) year over year at 90+%. Similar achievement can happen in K-12. I'm unaffiliated and will not accept an endorsement by the teacher's union. I have ONE special interest group: our children and their parents!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Jeffco has lost the trust of parents. Key to regaining it is transparent, open and proactive communication.
• Fiscal integrity. The budgeted $55 million deficit (next 3 years) is unsustainable. Hold Jeffco accountable!
• Academic achievement. Example: Only 30% of 7th graders meet MIN state standards. Unacceptable.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Trust is the essential component of public policy and the foundation of every institution. When trust breaks in a marriage, when employees don't trust ownership, when players don't trust a coach... everything breaks. Jeffco is broken: fiscally, academic achievement, culturally. Jeffco has lost the trust of parents and 1,000s leave to find a better education option. There is no more sacred trust than to place children at the feet of a teacher who will pave the way to an unlimited future by instilling knowledge, discovery and self-confidence. We must adopt and adhere to policies and practices that regain that trust.

What must be done?
Communicate transparently and proactively.
Publicly identify and discuss challenges.
Seek input from families, Collaborate with families to find solutions that benefit each student.
Let our amazing teachers focus on teaching their subjects.
Clear away peripheral demands on teachers.
Funds should be prioritized to the classroom level and to teachers.
Support and enforce classroom discipline that facilitates a learning environment and safety.
Show the public that we are spending every dollar thoughtfully (EARN future requests for increased revenue). Right-size our district.
Take back the wheel from the teachers union -they've driven us to our current educational reality either on purpose or by ineptitude. It is not where we want to be.

Jeffco has tremendous educators, administrators and families. We can fix this!

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Too many for the limited space provided here. I believe we owe everything to those who have come before. All of us stand on the shoulders of giants and live in debt for the sacrifices of generations who have come before us. Who do I look up to and aspire to follow their examples: Family -parents and siblings- have had the most profound impact on me. Other primary contributors to my worldview and character are: Dr. Roxy Cohen-Silver (PhD committee chair, mentor and friend), Keith Jensen (scoutmaster), high school coaches (wrestling, football), Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., multiple religious leaders including my Savior.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official is the servant of those he/she serves. They are bound to balance the requests of the public against core principles, in our case, the Constitution of the United States and the state of Colorado. Local and limited government are primary hallmarks of our society. An elected official should seek to involve the largest possible contingent in policy matters and statutory efforts in order to facilitate trust, civility and good policy. Listening and understanding are critical to enacting sound policy. Elected officials should always be on the guard against and unintended consequences of well-intentioned legislation. Always remember that the government answers to the people rather than the people answering to the government.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I do not succumb to social or political pressure or the group think that follows. As demonstrated by my professional and academic accomplishments, I think and see the world "differently" which facilitates solutions not previously seen. At the same time, I value the contribution and voice of others. I am a deep listener. I believe in the power of honest exploration (curiosity leading to clarity if not always agreement) as a means toward collaboration. I believe there are times when a leader must make a decision that benefits the whole and the long-term wellbeing although it may be unpopular in the immediacy.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My wife and I are book people. My freshman came home the other day and informed us that we officially have a library (which is, according to what he learned, defined as a collection of over 1,000 books... which we certainly have). To appease a range of readers, here are some of my favorite books (I don't think I could choose just one or two): Horton Hears a Who, Lord of the Flies, any Louis L'Amour western, 1942 (Winik), Every Drop of Blood, Mere Christianity, Deep Thoughts, any Calvin and Hobbes collection, Of Mice and Men, Everything in its Path, Meditations (Marcus Aurelius), Leaders Eat Last, Man's Search for Meaning, The Wright Brothers (McCullough).
Why these books? I love the human drama and learning about the world. The stories of people are fascinating, inspiring, tragic and hopeful.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Many individuals -some publicly known but most are everyday citizens, neighbors and educators- including teachers and administrators (current or retired). Please visit my website www.TeamWicke.com and see the Endorsement page for a growing list as well as their reasons for endorsing me.
I will not accept an endorsement or funds from the teachers union in order to retain my independent voice to champion parents, children and teachers both during my campaign and tenure as a board member.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Wicke completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• Chalkbeat Colorado
• Chalkbeat Colorado
• Jeffco Transcript

See also

2023 Elections

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Jeffco Board of Education District 3

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