By HEATHER HARTSELL
AND JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writers
There is still time before the deadline at 4:30 p.m. Monday to gather 20 or so signatures of qualified voters and file for the Sept. 18 school board elections.
The actual deadline was today, but it was extended because it fell on Saturday.
The statewide school board elections will be held Sept. 18.
Pulaski County
In the Pulaski County Special School District, four people have filed for the school board election.
Bill Vasquez of Jacksonville has filed against Dr. James E. Bolden, III, also of Jacksonville, for Bolden’s Zone 6 seat.
Mildred Tatum is running unopposed for her Zone 1 seat. Debbie Murphy is running unopposed for the Zone 2 seat.
Lonoke County
In the Cabot School District, Dr. Brenda Thielemier, board vice president, has yet to file for re-election to her Position 7 seat. Ken Kincade is running for Thielemier’s vacant position or against her if she decides to run.
Board member Jim Coy is running for re-election to his Position 3 seat. Arthur Evans has filed against him.
Kincade and Evans both ran in last year’s school board election, for the Position 2 seat, against current board president David Hipp.
Two positions are open in the England School District.
Kenneth Bascue and Jason Willard are running for the Zone 3, Ward 2 seat.
A three-way race will be had for the Zone 7 seat between Jerry Rice, Charles W. McDonald and Vernon B. Brazell.
As of Friday, no one had filed in the Carlisle School Board election, but hopefuls have until 4:30 p.m. Monday to file for office.
So far in the Lonoke district, only the incumbent Ray Kelleybrew has filed for the Zone 1 seat that is open this year.
White County
In Beebe, Brenda K. McKown filed late Friday morning for the seat held by Lorrie Belew, who is not running for re-election.
Belew, who has served on the board for five years, says that is long enough. She is ready to relax, she said.
“We’ve been through a lot,” Belew said. “We had the McRae annexation and we hired a new superintendent; I’m ready for somebody else to take over. There are plenty of people in Beebe with talent and good leadership skills who can take my spot,” she said.
Although only 20 signatures are required on the petition to file for school board, county clerks recommend that candidates gather at least 25 in case some are thrown out because they are not qualified voters.
