COLUMBUS, Ind. — Filing for school board races in Bartholomew County is now completed, and 12 candidates have filed for seats on the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. board.
Four have filed for Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. school board races. The deadline to file was Friday August 26 at noon. According to elections administrator Taylor Seegraves, the deadline to withdraw is Monday, Aug. 29 at noon.
For BCSC, the District 1, 2, 4 and 6 seats are up for election in November. Anakarina Hurtado, David Vincent and Jason A. Major have filed to run for District 1. Board President Jill Shedd, who currently holds the seat, has chosen not to run again.
Incumbent Richard A. Stenner, Jr. (District 2) has filed for re-election. Roy West and Dona Lynn Owings have also filed for the seat.
For District 4, Dale E. Nowlin and Eric Grow both seek the seat currently held by board member Julie Bilz. Bilz is not seeking re-election.
In District 6, incumbent Kathy Dayhoff-Dwyer is seeking re-election. Cheryl K. Miles-Vieth, Mark Douglas and Logan K. Schulz have also filed to run for the seat. Schulz was the last candidate to file, turning in his paperwork Friday morning.
The wide range of candidates is a noticeable difference from other BCSC races held over the past decade. In 2012, 2014 and 2018, none of the races were contested. In 2016, three seats were open and two candidates ran in each race for a total of six overall. In 2020, a total of seven candidates filed for three seats.
“I think it’s wonderful that individuals are taking an interest and are wanting to be involved with the education of our children,” said Bartholomew County Clerk Shari Lentz.
Dakota Hudelson with the Columbus Educators’ Association said that the CEA plans to once again hold a candidate forum, which it did in 2020. A date has yet to be determined, and the association wants to work with candidates so that all who are willing can participate may do so. Right now, they’re aiming for late September or early October, with the event likely being held on a Saturday.
“Given the number of candidates, we might hold more than one forum,” Hudelson added.
In addition to the BCSC races, seats are also on the ballot for Flat Rock-Hawcreek’s school board. The positions up for grabs are the Hawcreek district, the Flat Rock district, and an at-large seat.
Incumbents John D. Harker (Hawcreek), Chad Miller (Flat Rock) and Patrick J. Walters (at-large) have all filed to seek re-election. Miller is the only one facing an opponent; David J. O’Neill has also filed to seek the Flat Rock seat.
