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The Salida School District R-32-J Board of Education has announced the November 7, 2023 general election for school board district seats, with the incumbent for the District 1 seat not seeking reelection.

The School District is comprised of seven directors, with five geographic district seats and two at-large seats. The November 2023 election will include five seats up for election, including:

  • District 1 – Director Carrie Mattix has indicated she does not plan to run for re-election. The 2023 election begins a 4-year term for the District 1 seat.
  • District 2 – Incumbent Director Jodi Breckenridge Petit has indicated she is running in 2023, the start of a 4-year term.
  • District 5 – Incumbent Director Jenn Schuchman has indicated she is running in 2023, the start of a partial term, with the start of a 4-year term on the ballot in 2025.
  • At-Large Representatives:
    Incumbent Director Matt Hobbs has indicated he is running in 2023, the start of a 4-year term.
    Incumbent Director Ben Hill has indicated he is running in 2023, the start of a partial term, with the start of a 4-year term on the ballot in 2025.

Both Directors Joe Smith and Mandy Paschall are currently serving 4-year terms; election for those seats will not be on the ballot again until 2025.

Director District maps are posted on the school board webpage: https://www.salidaschools.com/overview/board_of_education

Colorado Association of School Boards offers great resources to anyone considering serving as a school board director:  https://casb.memberclicks.net/built-to-serve

Candidate Process Begins August 9

A candidate for the school board must be a resident of the school district and a registered voter for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the election. For specific director districts in the plan of representation, the person must be a resident of the director district in which he or she is a candidate. No person who has been convicted of a sexual offense against a child is eligible to serve on the school board. Because school director elections are nonpartisan, candidates may not campaign as members of a political party.

A person who desires to be a candidate for school director must file a nomination petition signed by 50 eligible electors. Petitions and required affidavits will be available at the School District Office at 627 Oak Street beginning August 9, 2023.

The nomination petition must be filed with Kim LeTourneau, the District’s designated election official, by Friday, September 1 at 12:00 noon. “The candidate would be wise to obtain extra signatures in case some of the signatures are invalidated,” notes LeTourneau.