REGION — Three of Oxford’s current four school board directors came to their positions by select board appointment rather than election. As those seats expire this month, only one person has taken out nomination papers to appear on the June 13 ballot.
Gay De Hart of Oxford was appointed to Maine School Administrative District 17’s school board in January. She is now running for a three-term as director. Rose Lincoln/Bethel Citizen
In January Gay De Hart was appointed to fill one seat when two directors resigned last December. After committing to be on the school board until the next election, she has filed to to run beyond her appointed term, which expires this month.
Becky Mason, who was appointed to the board at the same time as De Hart, will not seek to be elected, citing she is not able to commit to a three-year term.
Longtime Oxford Director Stacia Cordwell and first-time Director Shauna Broyer had both been elected the board by Oxford residents during last year’s local elections. Broyer succeeded Ron Kugel, who retired after decades to service to SAD 17’s school board, including several years as board chair.
Both resigned by the end of the year as the district became enmeshed in a culture war surrounding a proposed policy ACAA that addressed student gender identity. That policy was approved during its first reading last October but has been tabled indefinitely.
Lisa Dunham, who was appointed to the school board by selectmen in January, 2021 when previous director David Dunn stepped down, had indicated to Maine School Administrative District 17 that she did plan to run this round. Dunham is one of two school district representatives serving on the Maine Vocational Region 11 (Oxford Hills Tech School) board and is expected to continue, although not as district liaison.
With one candidate and two vacant positions, it will be up to Oxford voters to write-in names of two eventual directors. If the residents elected decline to serve, it will once again fall to the board of selectmen to solicit volunteers for appointment.
Oxford Town Manager Adam Garland said that sometimes the best elected officials are the result of write-ins.
“[To win write-in] it does not take many votes,” he said. “If someone elected by write-in declines to accept the seat, it will be up to selectmen to consider available options. One is that they could appoint a person to a one-year term until the next general election.”
Paris voters will also be asked to elect three directors to the school board this month.
Troy Ripley is running unopposed for a one-year term; he is also currently serving as an appointee. He is completing the term of former Director Julia Lester, who defeated Ripley during the 2021 election but resigned from her position last December.
Christie Wessels of Paris was appointed to Maine School Administrative District 17’s school board after longtime Director Sarah Otterson was recalled. Rose Lincoln/Bethel Citizen
Former Director Sarah Otterson of Paris was recalled during a special election in January, after residents who were disgruntled by her voting to approve the first reading of ACAA circulated a petition to eject her from the board. The person Paris selectmen appointed to replace her, Christie Wessels, is running to continue serving as director.
The third director’s seat is open due to Robert Jewell stepping down at the end of his term. Jewell had been elected in 2020 for a second stint on the board.
Three new candidates are running to represent Paris with SAD 17. Ronald Ramsey III had volunteered for appointment to Otterson’s seat in January but selectmen unanimously chose Wessels. Doreen Simmons, who operates a farm in Paris with her husband John, is running for the first time. Autumn Stan, sister of Christie Wessels, is also running for the first time.
In Norway, longtime Director Curtis Cole is running unopposed for reelection. He previously served as vice-chair of the board and is currently chair of SAD 17’s policy committee.
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