Candidates still needed for school boards

Candidates in this fall’s school board elections continue to trickle in, with only nine hopefuls seeking seats in the county’s six school districts. There are a total of 18 seats at stake in the non-partisan November 5 balloting. The deadline to file for school board is noon on Friday, Aug. 24.

As of Thursday there were no declared candidates for the two seats up this year on the Noblesville School Board.

At Hamilton Southeastern, three candidates have filed: Frank Whelan in District 2, Michelle Fulhart in District 3 and Bradley Banks in District 4.

In Carmel, Layla Spanenberg will run for re-election in District 1, and Michael Kerschner will seek another term in District 3.

At Hamilton Heights, Julie Davis is running for a Jackson Township seat, and Arnett Cooper is running at-large in the Jackson-White River district.

Only one candidate has filed in Westfield Washington. Dan Degnan is running for re-election in District 4.

And, at Sheridan there is also one candidate in the field thus far. Steven Dollahan is running in the Adams Township District.

Many observers thought there would be considerable interest in the school elections this year, especially in Noblesville where a $50 million bond issue is on the referendum ballot. And, at Carmel where controversy has developed over plans to close and rebuild two elementary schools, interest was thought to be high.

But, to date, there has been relatively little visible interest, and the candidate filings so far have not created any election contests.