Bollinger County school board candidates file for election

Three of Bollinger County’s four school districts will have elections in April.

If the number of candidates matches the number of vacancies, school districts are not required to have an election. This year, only the Zalma School District will not have an election to fill the two three-year openings. Incumbent member Curt Wiseman has filed, as has Jennifer Steinberg.

Two candidates in the Woodland School District filed for two vacancies for the open three-year term, but the race belongs to the candidates who want to fill the one-year unexpired term of the late Harley Eddleman.

Chris Rhodes and Brian Johnson, both incumbents, have filed for the full terms. Danny VanGennip was appointed to fill Eddleman’s position on the board until the election. He has filed to fill the remainder of the term; Doug Lindley also has filed for that spot on the board.

Five candidates in Leopold have filed to fill the two three-year terms: Laura (Jansen) Booth, Emily (Broshius) Lanpher, incumbent Jim Thele, incumbent Marty Arnzen and Lee VanderMierden.

In Meadow Heights, three candidates have filed for the two three-year openings: incumbents Sheila Bess and Brian Brugger and challenger Denise Lewis. Meadow Heights also has an unexpired one-year post open being filled by Carl Burr, who was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Chris Hyche. Burr has filed to fill the remaining year, as have Bryan Thompson and Curtis Waggoner.

In other races, the Leopold Fire Department is asking voters to approve its becoming a fire district. If voters approve it in April, it will start with a five-member board of Larry VanGennip, Tom Jansen, Alan Elfrink, Marty Calvert and Heather Jansen.

Steve Brune and Danny James have filed to fill two of three vacancies on the ambulance district board. Elaine Vandeven did not file for re-election, and the ambulance board is allowed to appoint someone to fill that vacancy because no one filed to be elected to it.