Three candidates will fill three seats on Cedar Rapids school board

Results of the Cedar Rapids district's school board elections were determined weeks before the election.

Three seats are up for grabs in this year's election. Four individuals filed papers to run, but one - incumbent Lisa Kuzela - withdrew her candidacy a few days later, essentially sealing the outcome for candidates Gary Anhalt, Nancy Humbles and Keith Westercamp.

Westercamp, 62, is the only incumbent, having served 12 years on the school board. He is running for a fourth term because he believes serving on the school board is one of biggest things a person can do to support the community.

“I think that the school are really important to the future of our whole community,” Westercamp said.

A commercial real estate appraiser and licensed realtor/broker, Westercamp said he brings business sense to the school board.

Anhalt, 62, has firsthand knowledge of the Cedar Rapids district, having worked for the district for 40 years - 30 as a classroom teacher. He retired June 30, but chose to run for the school board out of concerns for education's direction.

“In the wake of high stakes testing, we have lost our focus so much that kids are often reduced to test scores because of the punitive measures brought on by No Child Left Behind,” he said. “I fear we are losing sight on education the whole child.”

Anhalt believes his knowledge of education, the district, and his services on state and national boards - he served as president of the Cedar Rapids Education Association - will be a credit to the school board.

Serving on the school board is something Humbles, 58, has considered over the years. She wanted to wait until she had the time to dedicate 100 percent to the job.

“My children received a quality education in the Cedar Rapids schools,” she said. “It's my turn to give back.”

As director of the University of Iowa's Center for Diversity & Enrichment, Humbles' experience in education spans more than 30 years. She hopes her knowledge of students services - from the student side and the diversity - will be a welcome addition to the school board.

School board elections will be held Sept. 8. Each candidate will serve a four-year term.