The Buena Vista Education Association (BVEA) released a statement thanking the community for their efforts during the Buena Vista Board of Education (BOE) race to fill five open seats. Mallory Brooks and Paula Dylan, two out of three BVEA-endorsed candidates, appear to have secured their positions on the board.
Unofficial Chaffee County election results are available online from the Colorado Secretary of State. These results were last updated at 11:11 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7:
Buena Vista School District Logo courtesy bvschools.org
District 1
Brett Mitchell: 1,952
Casey Martin: 1,882
At Large – 4 Years
Mallory Brooks: 2,031
Montana Brown: 1,633
At Large – 2 Years
Paula Dylan: 2,115
Trinda Windle: 1,543
District 3
Norman Nyberg: 2,850
District 4
George Richardson: 2,727
Norman Nyberg and George Richardson were running unopposed. It appears they will be joined by Paula Dylan and Mallory Brooks as new members of the BV BOE with Brett Mitchell retaining his seat despite a tight race with Casey Martin.
The County Clerk’s office released a statement outlining the process over the coming days. As AVV reported, “The Clerk and Recorders office held 28 ballots in reserve, and in addition to that number, over the next eight days, it will continue to receive cured ballots, as well as military ballots and ballots that were dropped off in another county before 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.”
Buena Vista Education Association (BVEA) Official Statement:
Buena Vista School Board Results Show Community Stands With Educators
BVEA stands proud at the election of two of their three endorsed candidates Mallory Brooks and Paula Dylan.
After several years of advocating for improved working and learning conditions we are hopeful for the addition of these elected board members who share our values and are open in their commitment to improving collaboration with front line employees moving forward.
The majority support from our community for Mallory Brooks, Paula Dylan, and a near victory for Casey Martin shows that our community respects, trusts and stands with educators and rejects any distractions that keep us from addressing the urgent needs within our schools.
The members of BVEA and all current employees working in our schools, remain committed to making every public school a place with exceptional teaching and learning, no matter their racial, cultural, or economic backgrounds.
We look forward to welcoming all of our new board members, and the opportunity to work in collaboration with the board. Our request remains the same: that our entire board commit to including their employees and all community stakeholders in the important decisions being made about our work, our classrooms, our students and our schools.
BVEA member Carolyn Kerby stated, “I want to thank all of my colleagues who are working so hard to make our schools the best they can possibly be. I also want to thank the entire Buena Vista community for supporting us in this work. We enjoyed working with so many of you throughout the election, and are excited and eager to see what we can accomplish for our schools together in the coming years.”
Candidates Respond
AVV reached out to the school board candidates by email Wednesday afternoon asking for their comments on the election results.
Responses were received from the following candidates:
Mallory Brooks
At Large candidate Mallory Brooks answers voters’ questions. Photo by Carly Winchell
“At this point, with the low number of ballots still left to be counted, I don’t believe there can be any pivotal movement among the three contested school board races.
Concession and congratulatory messages have been circulated, and I know the elected candidates are ready to get to work for our schools!”
Paula Dylan
“Trinda and I have corresponded since last night. I am thankful to have been able to run against someone who also wants to see the School District succeed.
I truly am so appreciative of the support and confidence in my commitment to our entire community, and to our students, teachers, and staff of the Buena Vista School District. A thank you goes to all the candidates that put themselves out there, ran a clean race, and were willing to serve the School District and community over the next few years.
At Large candidate Paula Dylan. Photo by Carly Winchell
To my friends and family, all those who have been encouraging me to run, those who have put time and effort into helping me reach out to the community and spoken to their friends and neighbors, and all who have listened to me and helped me navigate the past few months, I am forever grateful.
To the other candidates that I have gotten to know well over the past few months, thank you for your time and dedication to our District. Whether you are elected or not in the end, I am honored to have been able to run in this election beside you.
Moving forward, I am ready for the new School Board to start working together and see where our common goals can lead this District and our community. To the entire community, I commit to listen, hear, and work with the entire Board to respond appropriately to your questions, concerns, criticisms and praise.
I will always advocate for the best interest of all our students, teachers and staff. Strong public schools build strong communities!”
Brett Mitchell
District 1 incumbent candidate Brett Mitchell. Photo by Carly Winchell
“The numbers appear to show that I will retain my seat on the School Board.
I have always had and still very much have respect for Lori and her team in the Clerk’s office, and I am sure that they will do everything to make sure that every ballot gets counted. The process that has been outlined gives us another seven days of limbo time, so to speak, in which any ballot which arrived with a questionable signature may be cured by the voter. Once this time has passed, Lori may certify the count and send it to the Secretary of State.
I believe that the count will remain in my favor and will work to move forward with the new board to create the positive place that our schools should be.”
Casey Martin
District 1 candidate Casey Martin. Photo by Carly Winchell
“We fell short by a mere 70 votes. There are a few ballots left to count or cure, but likely not enough to make a difference in the outcome. I’m humbled by the wonderful support for my candidacy and look forward to seeing Mallory Brooks and Paula Dylan in the board room.
This has been an eye-opening campaign that demonstrates the potential for change in Northern Chaffee County. Thank you to all the teachers, staff and volunteers who knocked on doors throughout our school district, those who put a sign in their yard, and those who’ve offered kind words of support.
Finally, we had an excellent time celebrating the conclusion of the campaign on Election Night with many of our friends and neighbors. Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with us!”
Neither Norman Nyberg nor George Richardson has responded to our request for comment, nor has Montana Brown and Trinda Windle.
The next Buena Vista BOE meeting is set for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 27 at 113 North Court Street in Buena Vista.
Editors Note: There was an error when this article was first published that failed to indicate a lack of response from Trinda Windle in addition to Nyberg, Richardson, and Brown. That error has since been corrected.
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