The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Election coming Tuesday
Lincoln seeks millage renewal
By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 3, 2007
School district elections throughout Washtenaw County will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
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Candidates are running for the Board of Education in the Ypsilanti, Willow Run and Lincoln districts. Only Willow Run and Lincoln schools, however, have contested elections. Additionally, there also are two millage proposals on the ballot for Lincoln.
In Willow Run's election, two candidates are running for the seat vacated by former trustee Scott Wilson. Kristine Thomas, a former board member who lost her seat last year, will be running against Travis Greer, a senior at Willow Run High School currently sitting on the board as Wilson's appointed replacement.
Thomas said she brings experience to the board. As a previous board member, she has earned her level two award of merit from the Michigan Association of School Boards.
She said attending classes, meetings, conferences and activities earns the award.
Greer said he brings a much needed student perspective to the board.
Greer said he brings a new, innovative look to the board. He said he could give the board an "out-of-the-box" view of the deficit.
"We're in a box, let's face it," he said.
"My age will play a major factor (in the election)," Greer said. "I know what goes on, I know the policy."
According to the county's election Web site, there are two write-in candidates running for the Willow Run seat as well. Harold Wimberly and Dorothy Blackmon appear on Washtenaw County's election website, but will not appear on the ballot.
Three candidates are seeking two seats on the school board at Lincoln Consolidated Schools.
Kimberly Samuelson, the board's president, is running for re-election. The other seat belongs to Jeffery Stokes, the board's secretary. He has chosen not to run for re-election.
Board candidate Jason Salhaney, a father of two, is a teacher with one child enrolled in the district. His 5-year-old son Noah will enroll next year.
As an educator, Salhaney said he could give a fresh, new perspective to Lincoln's board. If elected, he said he hopes to establish a five-year vision for the district. He said he wants the board to start planning ahead in the areas of the budget, infrastructure and curriculum.
"We need to develop a multi-year budget," he said. "I think we need to look at limited school of choice."
Jeremy Keeney, a 19-year-old University of Michigan student, is another candidate running for the Lincoln seat. He graduated from Lincoln High School last year.
"I thought it would be better if they had a younger voice with some fresh ideas," Keeney said.
"I can see the short falls and strengths of a Lincoln education," he said. "If a program were looking to be cut by the board, I would know the impact on that specific area."
Aside from the three-way race at Lincoln, there are also two ballot measures for voters to consider.
The first is an operating millage proposal. Aimed at restoring millage lost from a reduction required by the state, the proposal maintains current millage levels. However, the proposal does not affect principal residence, qualified agricultural or forest property. The seven-year millage is expected to collect $438,484 in its first year.
Finally, a second proposal earmarks .25 mills for the purposes of maintaining its recreation programming, including the district's senior center, which the district cut last year. The 20-year proposal is expected to generate $239,805 for the community-programs its first year.
For more information about the election next week, visit Washtenaw County's election web site at, www.washtenawvotes.org.
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