Bismarck Public Schools elections (2014)
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Three seats on the Bismarck School Board were up for general election on June 10, 2014.
Incumbents Scott Halvorson and Matthew Sagsveen and challenger Karl Lembke defeated Karalee Harper, Michael A. Holly, and Rissa Williams. Board member Steve Marquardt did not seek re-election because he ran for a seat on the Bismarck City Commission.[1]
About the district
- See also: Bismarck Public Schools, North Dakota
Bismarck Public Schools is located in Bismarck, North Dakota, the county seat of Burleigh County. Bismarck had a population of 64,751 residents, according to the United States Census Bureau in 2014.[2] Bismarck Public Schools was the largest school district in North Dakota, serving 11,160 students during the 2011-2012 school year.[3]
Demographics
Bismarck outperformed the rest of North Dakota in terms of higher education achievement in 2010. The United States Census Bureau found that 33.5 percent of Bismarck residents aged 25 years and older had attained a bachelor's degree compared to 27.1 percent for North Dakota as a whole. The median household income in Bismarck was $53,186 compared to $51,641 for the state of North Dakota. The poverty rate in Bismarck was 9.7 percent compared to 12.1 percent for the entire state.[2]
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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.
Voter and candidate information
As of the 2014 election, the Bismarck School Board consisted of five members elected at-large to four-year terms. There was no primary election and the general election was held on June 10, 2014.[5]
Board candidates filed statements of intent as well as a statement of financial interests with the school board secretary by April 7, 2014. State law does not require board candidates to file campaign finance reports. Write-in candidates are not required by state law to register before the general election.[6]
Elections
2014
Candidates
At-large
- Karl Lembke
- Graduate, University of Mary
- Development officer, State Historical Society of North Dakota
- Matthew Sagsveen
- Incumbent
- Graduate, Concordia College and the University of North Dakota
- Director, Natural Resources and Indian Affairs Department, North Dakota Attorney General's Office
- Rissa Williams
- Massage therapist
- Karalee Harper
- Graduate, University of Mary
- Director, Division of Chronic Disease, North Dakota Department of Health
- Michael A. Holly
- Graduate, SUNY-Albany and University of Colorado
- Senior National Guard trainer, U.S. Northern Command
- Veteran, North Dakota National Guard
- Scott Halvorson
- Incumbent
- Retired teacher
Election results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Karl Lembke |
23.6% | 4,813 | |
| Nonpartisan | Matthew Sagsveen Incumbent |
21.1% | 4,314 | |
| Nonpartisan | Scott Halvorson Incumbent |
20.5% | 4,182 | |
| Nonpartisan | Michael A. Holly | 14.4% | 2,937 | |
| Nonpartisan | Karalee Harper | 11.7% | 2,388 | |
| Nonpartisan | Rissa Williams | 8.3% | 1,691 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.4% | 78 | |
| Total Votes | 20,403 | |||
| Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, "Bismarck Public School Dist. 1 Election Results," June 25, 2014 | ||||
Campaign finance
No candidates filed a campaign finance report with the district office. Candidates are not required by state law to file campaign finance reports.[6]
Past elections
Information about earlier elections can be found by clicking [show] at the right. | |
|---|---|
2012Lawrence King and Heidi Delorme won board seats without opposition in the June 12, 2012, general election.[7] | |
What was at stake?
Issues in the election
May 14 candidate forum
The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum on May 14, 2014, for all six of the school board candidates. Forum moderator Keven Strege asked for candidate views on district funding, curriculum standards, and education issues. Scott Halvorson emphasized the need to balance new school construction with the ongoing costs of maintaining and expanding district schools. Michael A. Holly discussed the need for strategic planning to keep the district budget in line with growing enrollment figures. Matthew Sagsveen also noted the district's need for smart budget planning, especially as the state legislature changes aid formulas. Karalee Harper argued for district partnerships with local, state, and national education agencies to improve education outcomes. Rissa Williams suggested that the school board had to become more diverse to reflect an increasingly diverse population in Bismarck. Karl Lembke stated that clear and consistent communication between the board and the public is important as the district continues to expand.[8]
Issues in the district
Sex abuse case against former teacher
Former Wachter Middle School teacher Susan Duursma faced felony solicitation of a minor charges in Burleigh County based on alleged actions between March and July 2013. Duursma was accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old student. She was placed on unpaid leave in November 2013 and resigned from the district in February 2014. Duursma’s attorneys requested dismissal of the charges, arguing that a recording of an encounter made by the student and his friends was illegal without Duursma’s consent. The defense also asked the court to change the trial location from Burleigh County due to extensive media coverage.[9] Duursma pleaded guilty in May 2014 to one count of abuse of a child.[10]
Key deadlines
The following dates were key deadlines for the Bismarck Public Schools election in 2014:[11]
| Deadline | Event |
|---|---|
| April 7, 2014 | Filing deadline for candidates |
| May 1, 2014 | Earliest date for absentee ballot access |
| June 10, 2014 | Election day |
| June 20, 2014 | Certification of results by county auditor |
Additional elections on the ballot
The school board election shared the ballot with races for mayor, city commission, and city park board. The ballot also included primary races for state legislative, U.S. House, and U.S. Senate seats.[12]
See also
- North Dakota
- Bismarck Public Schools, North Dakota
- North Dakota school board elections, 2014
- List of school board elections in 2014
- School board elections, 2014
- Burleigh County, North Dakota ballot measures
- Local ballot measures, North Dakota
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Bismarck Tribune, "Sagsveen seeks re-election to school board," March 10, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 United States Census Bureau, "Bismarck, North Dakota," accessed April 11, 2014
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "ELSI Table Generator," accessed April 11, 2014
- ↑ Burleigh County Elections, "Elections," accessed April 11, 2014
- ↑ Bismarck Public Schools, "Board Member Method of Election," December 13, 1993
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 North Dakota Secretary of State, "Running for School District Office," March 2014
- ↑ Bismarck Public Schools, "June 25, 2012 School Board Meeting," June 25, 2012
- ↑ Bismarck Tribune, "School board candidates appear at Chamber forum," May 14, 2014
- ↑ The Bismarck Tribune, "Prosecutors want Bismarck teacher sex case to go to trial," March 27, 2014
- ↑ KSL.com, "Bismarck teacher pleaded guilty to sex with teen," May 2, 2014
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "2014 North Dakota Election Calendar," March 2014
- ↑ City of Bismarck, "Bismarck City Election Activities - Certified Election Candidates," April 7, 2014 (dead link)
| 2014 Bismarck Public Schools Elections | |
| Bismarck, North Dakota | |
| Election date: | June 10, 2014 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Karl Lembke • Matthew Sagsveen • Rissa Williams • Karalee Harper • Michael A. Holly • Scott Halvorson |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
