Changing of the guard at Douglas County School Board

In the 1972 movie, “The Candidate”, Robert Redford plays the part of Bill McKay, a Senate Candidate who wins a crucial election in a huge upset. McKay has never served in public office before. Towards the end of the election, in his first quiet moment, McKay asks his campaign manager, “What do I do now?” On December 1, 2009 a number of Douglas County School Board Members are asking themselves the same thing.

After a bruising off-year election in which the Douglas County voters turned their school board topsy-turvy, the December Board Meeting saw the swearing in of four board members, Meghann Silverthorn, Doug Benevento, Dan Gerken and John Carson (re-elected). In case there was any doubt that the board was heading in a new direction, the selection of President and Vice President showed change was coming. The election had evolved into a Union endorsed slate versus a GOP endorsed slate. After a huge turnout, the GOP endorsed slate prevailed. The AFT Union is still in place so future negotiations with the new Board should be interesting.

John Carson was elected President and Ryan Stuart was elected Vice President of the new Douglas County School Board. The vote was unanimous in each case. David Hart, the District’s Financial Officer was selected at Treasurer and Nona Eichelberger was retained as Board Secretary with Anita Gray stepping in as Assistant Secretary.

The transition from old regime to new regime had its awkward moments but the graciousness of outgoing Vice President Emily Hansen smoothed out any rough edges. Defeated Board President Kristine Turner was a no show for this eventful day. After the existing board approved the certification of the election results, the new members were sworn in by District Court Magistrate Beth Eliot Dumler.