Iowa City school board race packed

IOWA CITY - It's a crowded field in the Iowa City school board election.

As of 3 p.m., eight people had filed nomination papers for three open seats. Only one of them is an incumbent, first-term board member Mike Cooper.

I've heard school board members talk about how they have a hard time getting people to run. In fact, this is what board member Tim Krumm had to say last year when the board was grappling with whose terms to change to comply with a new state law, "We struggle enough to get people to run for these spots anyway.”

Krumm, incidentally, is one of the incumbents not seeking re-election. His term – he's in his first - was not changed. He said his family and work responsibilities are too great.

Jan Leff is the other incumbent not running. She said her nine years on the board were enough.

I've talked to some of the candidates but not all of them. It's probably not a stretch to say hot-button issues like the decision to close Roosevelt Elementary, high school enrollment, a proposed third high school and boundary changes have driven interest in the school board election.

According to the Auditor's Web site, this is the most candidates since 1987, when there were 9 for three seats. One of them was a write-in candidate. Another person ran to fill a vacant seat, bringing the total slate to 10.

Those who have filed this year are:

Cooper, 3829 Stoney Pointe Lane, North Liberty

April Armstrong, 2511 Highway 1, Iowa City

Tuyet Dorau, 2010 Wedgewood Place, Coralville

Anne M. Johnson, 75 Lynx Lane, North Liberty

Jean Jordison, 2735 Hickory Trail, Iowa City

Josh Kaine, 413 Church St., Iowa City

Jeffrey Manthey, 185 Willow Lane, North Liberty

Sarah Swisher, 917 Bowery St., Iowa City

Candidates have until 5 p.m. today to file. If any more do, I'll update this list tonight or Friday morning.