Two positions to be on ballot

Current millage rate needs to be approved by Decatur District voters

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

DECATUR - The Decatur School District will hold an election from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 17 at the city’s designated polling places. On the ballot will be two school board positions and a vote on the current tax rate.

Board positions available will be Decatur District Zone D3, currently held by Kevin Smith, whose term expires in September, and Zone D1, held by Amy Brooks.

Brooks was appointed to the Zone D1 position by the school board after the resignation of Justin Thompson. She continues to serve in this position until someone files for the Zone D1 and is elected.

Each candidate must receive at least one vote during the election. If they do not receive any votes and the position is unopposed, the position will remain with the current occupant.

According to Larry Ben, Decatur Schools superintendent, the Danville School Board was forced to rezone, putting all of their school board posts up for election at the next school board election. When the ballots were counted, not one of the candidates, all of whom were unopposed, received a single vote, making it necessary for the board to be appointed and serve until the next election.

“This is why it is very important that every Decatur resident get out and participate in this election,” Ben said.

Any candidates wishing to run for an open board position must meet the eligibility requirement for the job. To qualify, a candidate must file with the county clerk a political practices pledge, an affidavit of eligibility, and either a petition or a notice of write-in candidacy. Candidates cannot be employed by or seek employment with the Decatur School District. The candidates must live within the zones which they seek to represent on the board.

The petition requires the signatures of at least 20 registered voters from the school district and, if applicable, the zone which the candidate seeks to represent. Petitions may be circulated no earlier then 100 days before the election.

Candidates must file all paperwork with the county clerk’s office during a one week period ending at 12 p.m. 70 days before the election - from July 2 until 12 noon on July 9.

For write-in candidates, the filing period is the same. Write-in candidates must have an affidavit of eligibility, a political practices pledge and written notice of their intention to be a write-in candidate. The written notice must identify the position they are seeking - in this case, either Decatur School Board Zones D1 or D3.

Also Included on the Sept. 17 ballot is a measure to approve the current tax rate for the Decatur School District.

“We are not asking for an increase in the millage,” Ben said. “The vote is to approve the current tax rate. If for some reason it does not pass, it reverts back to the last rate approved by the voters,” Ben said.

“I’m happy with the board members that we have, not trying to replace them or anything like that. It is just an obligation to the community to let them know, give them the information. It’s part of the democratic process,” Ben said.

For more information, contact the Decatur School administration office or the Benton County Clerk’s office.

News, Pages 1 on 06/12/2013