School Board Elections are Coming!
by Jennifer Askew
School board elections happen every two years in WA state, always during odd years. That means that this year, 2023, is an election year! I’m going to tell you what you can expect in the Tahoma School District and when, and give you some resources for following along with this process.
What does the school board do?
This could be an entire article, but in short: The school board functions at the highest oversight level for the district. They are in charge of who serves as the superintendent. They also vote to approve or disapprove of: the annual district budget; purchases above a certain price point (even if they’re already in the approved budget); major changes to curriculum; capitol projects, e.g. new buildings, portables, or computer purchases; levies and bonds to be put in front of the voters; and many other things. They also act as liaisons between the community and the district, receive (and can request) presentations from various groups within the district, and work with our state legislators when necessary.
The board usually meets two-four times per month, plus a yearly two day retreat, but can meet much more often if a large issue is coming up, like a bond or levy election. Half of these monthly meetings are public, regular meetings, where voting can occur. The other monthly meetings are public work studies, which are more informal discussions. The board meets for executive sessions before every regular meeting, without the public, to discuss specific items allowed by OPMA laws. They also spend time every week reading over materials related to upcoming issues and votes, and meeting with district personnel to gain a better understanding of those issues before the next public meeting. By the time a director is voting on something at a public meeting, they are expected to have a full understanding of the issue and have already asked any questions they have of district personnel. (Though an issue can be tabled to a future date, if necessary, and clarifying questions are often asked before voting.)
What is the makeup of our board?
We have five total school board directors in Tahoma, and they serve alternating terms of four years. This means that typically one year will see two positions up for election on the ballot, then two years later the other three will be on the ballot. This can change if someone resigns early.
We do not have any “at-large” positions on the school board in Tahoma. Our five directors come from five distinct areas within the wider Tahoma school district. (These areas are also called districts, which can get a little confusing!) These areas are equal in population, but can vary greatly in geographic size. Director district 1, for example, is the yellow area outlined below, and is currently being represented by Haley Pendergraft. She won that board election in 2021, so that position won’t be on the ballot again until 2025.
Who can run or vote for school board?
To run for a particular director district, you have to live inside that specific area, and you can’t be an employee of the school district. To vote for a board member, you only need to live anywhere within the Tahoma School District boundaries. For example, say you live in Hobart, which is director district 5. You can only run as a board director in position 5, but you can vote for directors in districts 1-4, as well as district 5.
Can I run for school board?
Yes! You will have to run for the position where you are a resident (you can contact the district for help finding your director district), meet any other candidate requirements in King County, and either not be a current employee of TSD or plan to resign once elected. To register as a candidate, you need to file with King County Elections during filing week, which runs from May 15-19. You will also need to file with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) within two weeks of announcing your intention to run, or two weeks after filing, whichever is first.
How many positions are up for election this year?
This year we have four positions on the ballot, because of a resignation that happened in the early portion of a director’s term. (The Director for District 5, Val Paganelli, resigned just months into her second term, which started in 2021. The board then appointed Matt Carreon to serve until the next regular election, which is this year. After this election, the winner of this election will serve two more years, to finish out the regular four year term, and the position will be on the ballot again in 2025. At that point it will return to a four year cycle. Whew, got that?)
The four positions on the ballot this year are:
| Position Number | Current Director | Reason for Election |
| 2 | Michael Wiggins | Term end |
| 3 | Malia Hollowell | Term end |
| 4 | Pete Miller | Term end |
| 5 | Matt Carreon | Mid-cycle appointment |
Who’s running this year?
We won’t know for sure until the end of filing week and the withdrawal period. Candidates may withdraw from the election through May 22nd at 4:30pm. After that we will know for sure who is running! You can also keep an eye on who has filed with the PDC. This indicates an intention to run, but a candidate is not required to run for election just because they have filed with the PDC ahead of time. To check the PDC, go to this page and type Tahoma in the field labeled “Jurisdiction”. You can then sort by election year to see who has filed for this current election year. There are already four filings for this election year, representing three different director positions.
How do I get to know the candidates?
First, the voter’s pamphlet. The candidates will provide a short blurb about themselves, as well as contact info and (usually) some links to other places where you can learn about them. Most candidates will have a Facebook/Instagram page and a website, where they will post information about themselves as well as post about any events they are holding. You can also look forward to the Maple Valley/Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce’s town hall, typically held some time in the fall before the election. Some parent groups at local schools may also hold town halls. Candidates may also drop off or send informational leaflets to your home, put up signs and other info in the community, and engage with voters publicly in other ways.
What should I look for in a candidate?
Well, that’s up to you! School board positions are non-partisan in WA state, which means you will not see a party designation (e.g., Democrat or Republican) next to the candidates’ names on the ballot. This means that you will need to pay close attention to what the candidates say about themselves and their beliefs, especially on issues that impact public education. Most candidates will be responsive to your questions and make themselves available to the public on a regular basis, so be sure to take advantage of opportunities to get to know them better.
When is the election?
The primary election is on August 1st, and the general election is on November 7th.
Primaries only happen if there are three or more people running for a position, so there may not be primary elections for any/every position.
How do I keep track of all of this?
Come back here! We will continue covering these elections, so keep checking back for more info and potentially some endorsements from us. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for notifications when new articles post. You can also keep an eye out for communication from King County Elections, outreach from the candidates themselves, and regularly check on the information that the PDC publishes.
