Linn-Mar school board will keep two incumbents, welcome newcomer candidate

Linn County voters in the Linn-Mar Community School District elected two incumbents and one newcomer to fill three open seats on the school board Tuesday.

Four candidates put their names forward to fill the three seats: Laura Thomas, 39, and Midhat Mansoor, 41, both incumbents, and newcomers Michael Bowling, 44, and Evan Langston, 37.

Bowling lost the race, receiving about 17.2 percent of votes. Thomas received about 27.7 percent of votes, Langston received about 27.4 percent of votes, and Mansoor received about 25.8 percent of votes.

The Linn-Mar school board is comprised of seven members, who serve about 7,400 students in the district. School boards — whose members are unpaid in Iowa — are responsible for making final financial and policy decisions for their districts.

Laura Thomas

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Thomas was appointed to the school board in February 2024 to fill a vacancy and she said she was grateful for the professionalism shown by all the candidates in the election this year.

“We’re lucky to have four people who are all invested in the success of Linn-Mar and wanted to work to see it get better,” Thomas said after results came in Tuesday night.

Thomas’ top priorities for the district are providing paths for student success, ensuring buildings are well-maintained, and advocating for sustainable funding.

“We are so lucky to have such a supportive community in this school district, and I think we’re going to continue to build on that, and we’re excited for what’s to come,” she said.

Midhat Mansoor

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Mansoor was also appointed to the board, in October 2024, to fill a vacancy, and said she is excited to continue serving in the position.

“This is my passion project, and I’m honored that the community thought I was worthy enough to get elected,” she said Tuesday night after the election.

Her top priorities for the district are promoting academic excellence, providing support for teachers and staff, and fostering strong partnerships with families.

“I just want to keep doing community service and giving back to the schools, because the schools make strong communities,” she said Tuesday night.

Evan Langston

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Langston has not held any prior political office. He could not be reached Tuesday night, but wrote in a questionnaire sent to him by The Gazette that he decided to run for the school board position because he believes he has a “civic duty to give back — both for my own son and for all families in our community — by working to ensure our public education system serves every child well.”

His top priorities for the district are expanding pathways for students, promoting fiscal responsibility that supports working families, and maintaining trust with the community through transparency.

“When the community has confidence that the board is acting in the best interests of students — and feels heard and respected in the process — it opens the door to healing and rebuilding trust in a time when division has taken a real toll,” Langston said.

Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com