Candidates sign up for school board elections

Comments 0
Published: December 17, 2008

MCT REGIONAL NEWS

By Mickey Winfield

The Portales News-Tribune, N.M.

(MCT)

Dec. 17--There are two contested races for February's Roosevelt County school board elections -- both in Elida.

Dora and Floyd each have three candidates running unopposed, while Portales has two incumbents running unopposed, board president Alan Garrett and David Brooks.

In Elida, incumbent Scott Burton faces a challenge for his seat from M. Floyd Jones.

Burton, a self-employed farmer and rancher, was a write-in candidate and has held his seat for three years. Burton also owns and runs a small trucking company.

''I'm on (the board) for the children. We want to be able to keep our school small so we can have more of a one-on-one (dynamic) with the kids and teachers," Burton said. "I think we're up there at number one (with similar size school districts)."

Jones' son is a sophomore at Elida High School.

''I want the school district to continue the way it is," Jones said. "We've got a good school, everybody pulls for this school, the kids like it and the parents like it. I just want to see the school continue growing the way it's growing."

Virginia Ann Clemons is finishing her first four-year term on the Elida school board and would like the opportunity to keep her seat. Manuel Jasso is running against her.

''We've been very blessed to have a wonderful school facility. We've had a very strong superintendent; we've built new buildings; we've added new programs," Clemons said. "I'm running again because I feel the continuity of the board that we've had the last three years, if it continues, then our facilities and our school district will grow and prosper, and I hope that I can bring some expertise and wisdom to that board."

Jasso, a truck driver and 1987 graduate of Elida High School, has a pair of twins in their senior year at EHS, and a 12-year-old in seventh grade.

Jasso also serves on the Elida Town Council.

''I just want to serve the community," Jasso said. "Being on the town council, I know that it takes a lot of time to get funding and to improve things in the school district."

In Portales, superintendent Randy Fowler says the current school board has good chemistry.

''Our board works very well together," Portales superintendent Randy Fowler said. "They're interested in what's best for our students and our community. They've worked very effectively together. It's a strong board with a lot of experience."

In Dora, incumbent Jana Roberts is unopposed, as is John Mohan to replace incumbent Scotty Watson. Watson is not running. Gary Simpson is also unopposed.

Incumbents Jeffery Essary, James E Love and Clovis Gray are running unopposed in Floyd.

The election will be held Feb. 3.

_____

To see more of The Portales News-Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pntonline.com/.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.