Des Moines School Board Election

As you drive south on Beaver toward Forest Avenue, you will see yard signs for seven of the eight candidates for three positions on the Des Moines School Board: Kittie Knauer, Ginny Strong, Jeanette Woods, Dick Murphy, Steve Flood, Kris Crisman, and Mike Pike. The election is Tuesday, September 9 at your usual polling place.

I could not tell you why Larry Barrett, the 8th candidate and a teacher at DMACC, doesn’t have a sign in the yard. He’s been running a good campaign, attending the forum, and presenting his views in a positive manner.

Kittie Knauer who many people know as Kittie Weston-Knauer has been a local celebrity in Des Moines for decades. She is a Drake University graduate with 33 years experience as a classroom teacher and administrator, and what could be better? She is also a bicycle racer (obviously fit for every challenge).

Ginny Strong, Jeanette Woods, and Dick Murphy are incumbent School Board members hoping for re-election. In a ringing endorsement of business-as-usual, they are being “recommended” by the Des Moines Education Association (DMEA). I doubt that the questions that continue to be raised about Rice Field will help the incumbents, but they are clearly well-qualified. Contentiousness has been reported between the three incumbent board members up for election and fellow incumbent Jonathon Narcisse.

Kris Crisman, Steve Flood, and Mike Pike are receiving support from an interesting power base too. According to The Des Moines Register the trio is getting some unsolicited help from a group called Iowa Family Policy Center Action (IFPCA). While the IFPCA lacks its own website, they seem to be an action arm of the Iowa Family Policy Center. In articles reported in The Des Moines Register the three candidates have indicated that they have not asked for this support. KCCI has characterized the IFPC as conservative. I wonder. Since IFPC has been labeled as conservative, does it mean we should automatically like or dislike them?

I think it is most important to listen to or read the views of all eight candidates. Judge them for who they are. If you haven’t had a chance to attend any of the candidate forums, you can still hear the candidates on-line. These interviews have certainly helped me in finding candidates in whom I have confidence, and I didn’t need the DMEA or the IFPC to help me. Interestingly enough, I found a candidate from several of the groups – one recommended by DMEA, one by IFPC, and one endorsed by neither. Keep an open mind and listen to them all before you decide.

• Larry Barrett
• Kris Crisman
• Steve Flood
• Kittie Knauer
• Dick Murphy
• Mike Pike
• Ginny Strong
• Jeanette Woods

All in all it is a pretty interesting race with eight people running for three seats. (Talk about a wicked game of musical chairs.) Well, do your homework and vote on September 9. The polls are open from 7 am until 8 pm or you can vote absentee if you plan ahead.