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Gwen Maitzen
Gwen Maitzen is the former Area IV representative on the Oregon School District school board in Wisconsin. First elected in 2014, Maitzen lost a re-election campaign in the by-district general election on April 4, 2017.
Biography
Before her retirement, Maitzen worked as an educator in the Oregon School District. She earned a bachelor's degree in liberal students from DePauw University, a master's degree in secondary education and teaching from Northern Illinois University, and a master's degree in painting from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.[1]
Elections
2017
- See also: Oregon School District elections (2017)
Three seats on the Oregon School District school board were up for by-district general election on April 4, 2017. Area II incumbent Charles Uphoff did not file to run for re-election, leaving the seat open for a newcomer. Courtney Odorico ran unopposed and won that seat. In her bid for re-election to Area III, incumbent Barbara Feeney also ran unopposed and won another term. Area IV incumbent Gwen Maitzen was defeated by challenger Tim LeBrun.[2][3]
Results
| Oregon School District, Area IV General Election, 3-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Tim LeBrun |
51.47% | 1,784 |
| Gwen Maitzen Incumbent | 48.38% | 1,677 |
| Write-in votes | 0.14% | 5 |
| Total Votes | 3,466 | |
| Source: Dane County Clerk, "2017 Spring Election Official Canvass," accessed May 2, 2017 | ||
Funding
Maitzen began the race with an existing account balance of $100.00 from her previous campaign. She reported $600.00 in contributions and $305.94 in expenditures to Oregon School District, which left her campaign with $394.06 on hand in the election.[4]
Endorsements
Maitzen was endorsed by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO and the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans.[5][6]
2014
General election
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Gwen Maitzen |
54.5% | 1,942 | |
| Nonpartisan | Wayne Mixdorf | 45.4% | 1,616 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.1% | 4 | |
| Total Votes | 3,562 | |||
| Source: Dane County Clerk's Office, "2014 Spring Election Official Canvass," accessed December 22, 2016 | ||||
Primary election
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Wayne Mixdorf |
46.5% | 572 | |
| Nonpartisan | Gwen Maitzen |
45.7% | 562 | |
| Nonpartisan | Justin Zander | 7.3% | 90 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.4% | 5 | |
| Total Votes | 1,229 | |||
| Source: Dane County Clerk's Office, "2014 Spring Primary Election Official Canvass," accessed December 22, 2016 | ||||
Campaign themes
2017
Maitzen participated in the following survey conducted by the League of Women Voters of Dane County. The questions provided by the League of Women Voters are bolded, and Maitzen's responses follow below.
What in your professional and community background qualifies you for this elective office?
| “ | Serving the people of the Oregon School District for the past three years has been an honor. We worked together as a community of educators, parents, students and constituents to provide the District with two referenda that upgraded buildings and supported teacher salaries to maintain exceptional educational standards. I have started an Arts Initiative, lead the Policy Committee and helped draft our Visioning Paper. My professional background of a teacher of 25 years allows for institutional insight that is important to any school board. And of course, I am passionate about students learning and becoming healthy, happy and thoughtful adults.[7] | ” |
| —Gwen Maitzen (2017)[8] | ||
What are the most important budget issues facing your school district, and what are your ideas for addressing them?
| “ | The voters of our district supported education generously with their vote of confidence with the current school board and now we must be fiscally responsible to the voters. The financial issues that need consideration are: continued and appropriate salaries for employees, maintenance of buildings, transportation, health insurance and balanced and sustainable growth. As a research and data oriented district, a new task force is developing to study the potential growth of a new housing development and its impact on the district. It is important to me that the taxpayer is carefully considered before new schools are designed and built.[7] | ” |
| —Gwen Maitzen (2017)[8] | ||
What criteria would you use to evaluate proposals for a new public charter school in your district?
| “ | I have devoted over 16 years to teaching in the public schools. I have also taught in two private schools. With this background, I am a strong, dedicated and highly motivated advocate for our public schools for so many reasons. In general, I do not support programs that divert needed funds from public education. That said, a proposal for a charter school would have to meet a need not being met or could not be met in our school district. A charter school would have to meet all educational and financial requirements imposed on any of our schools.[7] | ” |
| —Gwen Maitzen (2017)[8] | ||
With fewer journalists dedicated to covering education issues, what do you see as your role in advocacy with the community?
| “ | It is a privilege to be a part of the Oregon Community where the word gets out through cable access, a small newspaper, a coffee shop where conversation is lively and social media. As a long time teacher in the district, I keep my ear to the ground: listening and advocating for students, parents and educators. I still love to teach by volunteering with traditional and alternative ed students and through Community Education. I have been the voters strong voice on the School Board and would like to continue my service by being active, transparent and conscientious for our schools.[7] | ” |
| —Gwen Maitzen (2017)[8] | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Gwen Maitzen," accessed March 28, 2017
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Jayne Wick, Oregon School District," January 11, 2017
- ↑ Dane County Clerk, "2017 Spring Election Unofficial Canvass," accessed April 4, 2017
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Jayne Wick, Oregon School District" April 3, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin AFL-CIO, "Spring Election Endorsed Candidates," March 9, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, "WIARA Spring Election Endorsements," March 17, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 League of Women Voters of Dane County, "Oregon School Board," accessed March 28, 2017
| Oregon School District elections in 2017 | |
| Dane County, Wisconsin | |
| Election date: | April 4, 2017 |
| Candidates: | Area II: • Courtney Odorico Area III: • Incumbent, Barbara Feeney Area IV: • Incumbent, Gwen Maitzen • Tim LeBrun |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
