THREE FILE FOR JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD ON THE FIRST DAY OF FILINGS

JACKSON - Three candidates, including one incumbent, were the first to file Tuesday for the Jackson Board of Education. Because of a new state law, local school boards will be increased by one seat in April. That means three seats will be filled in April.

Candidates who filed Tuesday include:

- Incumbent board member, Darrell Hanschen

- A former school board candidate, Mark Martin

- and a newcomer, Kelle A. Lane.

Hanschen is completing his first, theee-year term on the school board. He was elected in April 1990, after defeating 15-year incumbent board member Bertha Hoffmeister. Hanschen, 41, is a pharmacist at Medicap Pharmacy in Jackson. He is a 1968 graduate of Jackson High School.

Hanschen attended Southeast Missouri State University for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a medic. He next attended pharmacy school at Northeast Louisiana State University.

Hanschen and his wife, Cheryl, have three school-age children, a son, Shaun, and twin daughters, Brittany and Leslie.

Martin, 38, of 1111 Shady Lane, is the branch claims manager for Shelter Insurance Company's Cape Girardeau branch office. He has lived in Jackson for the past 2 years. He graduated in 1975 from Lora College in Dubuque, with a degree in sociology. In 1981, Martin received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Iowa at Iowa City.

Martin and his wife, Catherine, have three school-age children, Ben, Maggie, and Nick.

This is Martin's second try at a school board seat. He ran unsuccessfully in April of last year for one of the two school board seats.

Lane, who lives in New Wells with her husband, Ricki, and her young children, says she decided to run for school board before her children reach school age.

"Our children will soon be in the Jackson school system, and I would like to be a part of the decision-making process of the district," she said. "It is important for me to do this now, while my children are not in the school system. That way, I can be more objective."

Lane is a 1985 graduate of Jackson High School, and attended Southeast Missouri State University for three years.

Candidates for school board may file at the superintendent's office on Oklahoma Street, from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Feb. 2.