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Robert Gerhart
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Robert Gerhart is an at-large member of the Osseo Area Board of Education in Minnesota. He won in the general election on November 4, 2014. He previously ran unsuccessfully for a seat on November 6, 2012.
Biography
Robert Gerhart is a resident of Osseo, Minnesota. Gerhart graduated from Hayfield High School before earning his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of North Dakota and his M.S. degree in engineering management from St. Cloud State University. He is employed as a technology specialist with Fish & Richardson P.C.[1]
Elections
2014
- See also: Osseo Area Schools elections (2014)
The election in Osseo featured three at-large seats up for general election on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Jim Burgett ran against challengers Oduwa Aibuedefe Aganmwonyi, Pa Modou Ann, Susan Brown-Whistler, Jessica Craig, Delma J. Francis, Robert Gerhart, Radious Y. Guess and Collette Guyott-Hempel for the seats. Fellow board members Tammie Epley and Teresa Lunt did not file for re-election.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan |  Jessica Craig |
18.5% | 15,317 | |
| Nonpartisan | Robert Gerhart |
18.3% | 15,138 | |
| Nonpartisan | Jim Burgett Incumbent |
17.9% | 14,871 | |
| Nonpartisan | Susan Brown-Whistler | 13.1% | 10,846 | |
| Nonpartisan | Collette Guyott-Hempel | 9.2% | 7,639 | |
| Nonpartisan | Pa Ann | 7.8% | 6,459 | |
| Nonpartisan | Oduwa Aibuedefe Aganmwonyi | 6.3% | 5,188 | |
| Nonpartisan | Delma J. Francis | 5.1% | 4,228 | |
| Nonpartisan | Radious Y. Guess | 3.5% | 2,912 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.4% | 322 | |
| Total Votes | 82,920 | |||
| Source: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Results for Selected Contests in School District No. 279 - Osseo," accessed December 30, 2014 | ||||
Funding
Osseo Area Schools does not publish campaign finance reports for school board candidates. State law does not require campaign finance reporting if contributions or expenditures do not exceed $750 in a calendar year.[2]
Endorsements
Gerhart received endorsements from the Senate District 34 Republicans of Minnesota, the Senate District 36 Republicans of Minnesota and Osseo City Councilman Mark Schulz.[3][4]
2012
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Dean G. Henke Incumbent |
23% | 24,218 | |
| Nonpartisan | Linda Etim |
21.7% | 22,883 | |
| Nonpartisan | Jacki Girtz |
20% | 21,016 | |
| Nonpartisan | Robert Gerhart | 19.9% | 20,937 | |
| Nonpartisan | Collette Guyott-Hempel | 14.6% | 15,422 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.8% | 796 | |
| Total Votes | 105,272 | |||
| Source: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Results for Selected Contests in School District No. 279 - Osseo," accessed August 1, 2014 | ||||
Campaign themes
2014
Gerhart published his platform on his campaign website:
| “ | Student Achievement
One of my four main goals as a D279 school board candidate, if elected, is to improve the academic achievement of our students. I have a real plan that can bring better technology into the classroom, increase our teachers' effectiveness, raise student achievement, and do it all without a budget increase (or possibly even a reduction)! It can be done; and I will share my vision with you. Transparency One of my four main goals as a D279 school board candidate, if elected, is to bring greater transparency to district operations. The District isn't doing enough to take advantage to free and readily available technologies that can bring its operations out from behind closed doors and let the public see what is going on. The truth may be able to set you free, and in this case, bringing you the truth can be delivered for free. Classroom Innovation One of my four main goals as a D279 school board candidate, if elected, is to bring greater innovation into our classrooms. There is growing psychological evidence that the way most school districts teach their kids is not only sub-optimal, it is almost the exact opposite of what young minds need. I have a vision for a learning environment that better suits the way the human mind is built to learn. Fiscal Responsibility One of my four main goals as a D279 school board candidate, if elected, is to bring greater fiscal responsibility to our school district. After all, it is the taxpayers' money! The last couple of election cycles have changed the face of the school board for the better and in general they have done a pretty good job managing the budget at a high level. But what about at the lower levels?[5] |
” |
| —Robert Gerhart campaign website (2014)[6] | ||
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Robert + Gerhart + Osseo + Area + Schools"
See also
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Osseo Area Schools
- Office website
- Campaign website
- Campaign blog
- Campaign Facebook page
- YouTube channel
- LinkedIn page
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Robert Gerhart (EE, MEM, AEM)," accessed October 21, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance," accessed August 1, 2014
- ↑ SD 34 MN GOP, "2014 Candidates," accessed October 21, 2014
- ↑ Elect Gerhart, "Home," accessed October 21, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Elect Gerhart, "Goals," accessed October 21, 2014
| 2014 Osseo Area Schools Elections | |
| Hennepin County, Minnesota | |
| Election date: | November 4, 2014 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Jim Burgett • Oduwa Aibuedefe Aganmwonyi • Pa Ann • Susan Brown-Whistler • Jessica Craig • Delma J. Francis • Robert Gerhart • Radious Y. Guess • Collette Guyott-Hempel |
| Important information: | Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
