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Only one incumbent filed for re-election for three open district seats for the board by the 5 p.m. deadline Tuesday. Kelley Herold will defend his District 4 seat against three others, while Vicki Englich, who represents District 3, and Fred Petersen of District 5, chose not to file for reelection.
In District 4 — which includes Dakota, Homer, Richmond, Wilson, Pleasant Hill, Wiscoy, Hart, Warren and New Hartford — Herold will run against David Kulas, Greg Fellman and Jean Leicester.
Kulas, 61, of Wiscoy Township, said he is a retired business owner, a former substitute teacher in area districts including Winona and has taught computer science at Winona State University and Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical. Leicester, who did not return messages left at her house, is from Wilson Township. Fellman, 51, of Pickwick ran for an at-large seat on the board in 2006 and lost. He has worked at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center-La Crosse for nearly 20 years.
“I have a financial background, which I think is something that is missing from the current board,” Fellman said.
Herold did not return a phone message left at his house.
In District 3, which includes Winona’s downtown and east end — Michelle Langowski will run against Ruth Marg. Langowski said she’ll focus on curriculum changes and academic success.
“I’ve been very involved in the school district for many years,” Langowski said. “I’ll try to represent the views of the folks in my neighborhood at the school board level.”
Marg, 73, was a board member in the late 1980s. She has been involved in the Save Our Fine Arts organization and multiple district-related committees.
“I’m just getting tired of people voting for stuff without the OK from the citizens,” Marg said.
In District 5 — which includes Goodview, Hillsdale, Minneiska, Minnesota City, Mount Vernon, Stockton and Rollingstone — incumbent Fred Petersen did not file for re-election. Gary Shurson of Goodview and Mike Lafky of Stockton will compete for the seat. Shurson, 61, said he currently works as a salesman for R and L Carriers, and has been a salesman for transportation companies for about 30 years.
“I want to make sure the taxpayers are getting fair value for their taxes,” Shurson said, “and students are getting the best education we can give them to compete in the world today.”
Lafky did not return a message left at his home.
Because more than two candidates are running for the District 4 seat, a primary will be held September 9 for that district. General elections for all three districts will be held Nov. 4.
Contact Nolan Rosenkrans at (507) 453-3519.
For excerpts of interviews with candidates, visit Nolan Rosen-krans’ blog “Open Enrollment” at www. rivervalleyblogs.com/nolan/.
