Get to know the candidates for Mason’s Board of Education
Jessica Kantor | Staff Writer
Kris Ogungbemi | Staff Writer
Eight candidates vie for three open positions this Election Day (Tuesday, November 3) on the Mason City Schools Board of Education. The recently quarrelsome board camaraderie, according to theCincinnati Enquirer, will pose a new challenge for candidates as they attempt to secure votes.
Jackie Blair
Describe your previous experience with government or leadership roles.
My leadership experiences started in college as Treasurer of my pharmacy class for three years. Professionally, I have managed a retail pharmacy and nursing home care pharmacy.
What makes you different from the other candidates and what do you hope to contribute to the board?
My determination, focus and common sense would be an asset to the school board.
What was your favorite part of high school?
My fondest memories of high school revolve around the high regard our pep band and orchestra received from everyone I met during my school years. This praise for our band continues today.
Marianne Culbertson
Describe your previous experience with government or leadership roles.
I have been a member of the Mason Board of Education for sixteen years. Three of those years I served as Board President, and another couple of years as Vice President.
What makes you different from the other candidates and what do you hope to contribute to the board?
I am the senior member of the board with sixteen years. It brings a really strong sense of continuity to decisions that have been made in the past — the clear understanding of how we got to where we are today.
What was your favorite part of high school?
I was not active in drama, but always enjoyed going and watching my friends perform [in school plays]. I can remember small-act plays that were in a small, black box theatre, and those memories stick with me today.
Beth DeGroft
Describe your previous experience with government or leadership roles.
I sit on the Mason Parks Foundation Board, and I have done that for three years. Three years ago, I chaired the bond issue for the Mason High School addition. That’s how I got the bug to get into politics.
What makes you different from the other candidates and what do you hope to contribute to the board?
I am a parent of four students in the district. Of the eight people running, only one other person has a child in the district. I am the ultimate consumer — I touch it, taste it, live it, see it every day.
What was your favorite part of high school?
Participating in extra-curricular activities was probably my favorite. I loved that piece of it. I played field hockey, ran track, sang in the choir and did musicals.
Rick Dotson
Describe your previous experience with government or leadership roles.
I taught for 31 years in the public school system in Kings School District. I spent five summers with the Warren County Summer Youth Employment and Training Program.
What makes you different from the other candidates and what do you hope to contribute to the board?
I worked 31 years as a teacher, and I also drove a school bus for 29 years. I served two different terms as president of the Kings Education Association. I have had 22 years of negotiations experience while at Kings, either with teachers or bus drivers. I am well aware of how a school district functions and how a school district sometimes spends its money.
What was your favorite part of high school?
That would be history class.
Tresa Louderback
Describe your previous experience with government or leadership roles.
I enjoy working the polls on Election Day. I feel this is a good opportunity to serve my community and my country in a small way, yet important way.
What makes you different from the other candidates and what do you hope to contribute to the board?
I hope to help bring dignity and integrity back to the board. We’ve been in the news too many times for antics and drama during board meetings.
What was your favorite part of high school?
My favorite part of high school was government class during my senior year. [My teacher] is responsible for my interest in government and politics.
Jennifer Miller
Describe your previous experience with government or leadership roles.
I’ve helped with a lot of conservative candidates on their campaigns. I’ve also started a ministry when we lived in Tiffin, Ohio called Parents for Traditional Values [which] was involved [in] raising money to purchase Christian material edited for public school use.
What makes you different from the other candidates and what do you hope to contribute to the board?
I’m not part of the status quo. I’m not a PTO mom; I’m not a union member, or a former union member. I am a concerned parent, taxpayer, who is looking out for the best interest of the kids and not the best interest of the adults.
What was your favorite part of high school?
I didn’t like high school; I graduated early. High school was not an easy time. I never went to homecoming. I did go to one prom, but I don’t think I missed anything.
John Odell
Describe your previous experience with government or leadership roles.
My political experience was mostly in evaluating candidates that are running and trying to make up my own mind through some of the hype.
What makes you different from the other candidates and what do you hope to contribute to the board?
I spent 35 years teaching and in education. My fatherwas a teacher, my mother was a teacher, my sister was a principal. That gives me a perspective that is missing on the board at this point in time. I think it’s a needed perspective, especially when we’re talking about difficult choices, cuts or maintenance of programs — we need someone who’s walked in a teacher’s shoes.
What was your favorite part of high school?
I was a member of the swim team and I enjoyed that. I took some foreign languages — I enjoyed that.
Connie Yingling
Describe your previous experience with government or leadership roles.
I’ve been on the school board for ten years now. Outside of that, I’ve done some community activities, some community fundraising. I’ve worked with youth sports organizations.
What makes you different from the other candidates and what do you hope to contribute to the board?
One of the things that I’ve always tried to do, and I still consider it to be paramount, is communication. I believe strongly that the school district belongs to the residents and families that live in the community. It is important to me that those individuals feel like they can come to me and they can talk to me about an idea, a concern, something they would like to see changed or just something they would like to see more of.
What was your favorite part of high school?
Probably group projects, because I thought learning was often more fun when you were learning with someone else.