The winner of one seat on the Toledo Public Schools Board of Education will be a write-in candidate.
TPS board president Sheena Barnes missed the Wednesday deadline to file for re-election but filed Thursday morning to run as a write-in candidate, according to the Lucas County Board of Elections.
Write-in candidates must file by 4 p.m. Aug. 28 to be considered, said Tim Monaco, deputy director of the Lucas County Board of Elections.
Ms. Barnes was a first-time candidate when she was elected to the school board in November, 2019.
Ms. Barnes did not return repeated messages on Thursday seeking comment.
Because of a paperwork error, now State. Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson had to run in the March, 2020, Democratic primary as a write-in candidate for re-election to her state representative seat.
As a seasoned politician, the error was humbling, she said.
“Like with everything, people are fallible,” she said.
When running as a write-in candidate, it really is an educational campaign, explaining to voters the steps needed to complete a write-in ballot, Ms. Hicks-Hudson said.
The lack of candidates filing to run for school board is concerning, said Ms. Hicks-Hudson, who, as Democratic Party chairman, aims to attract more candidates to run for elected office.
“The school board as a citizen-led, parent-led organization is the most valuable position that we have, I think, throughout the entire governmental system,” she said. “We should have people really wanting to help lead so our children can be productive, educated, thoughtful citizens.”
Jeff Chambers, director of communication services for the Ohio School Boards Association, said a lack of candidates for school board isn’t uncommon.
“In past elections, there have been a number of school districts that have had more seats available than they have candidates,” Mr. Chambers said.
The association has been working to raise the level of awareness and attract more candidates using a campaign launched five years ago, he said.
“One of the hallmarks of the education system in Ohio is local control,” Mr. Chambers said. “The fact that the local citizens are the ones that help lead and guide the school district. The more involvement you have, the more people who are interested in running for office — it helps the school district.”
This is the third election cycle for the awareness campaign. The organization saw an increase in school board candidates between the first and second cycles, Mr. Chambers said. The organization is still gathering data from Wednesday’s filing deadline to determine the campaign’s success in this third cycle, he said.
TPS board vice president Randall Parker III filed his petitions this week and is running unopposed, officials said.
Mr. Parker was appointed in January, 2022 to fill the remaining two-year term of a vacant board seat — marking the second consecutive time he’s been selected for the role.
He filled a seat vacated by Stephanie Eichenberg, who resigned because she and her family were moving out of the district.
“I believe that public education needs advocates for the students to be able to reach their full potential,” Mr. Parker said. “One of my number one priorities is to continue to look for the safety and security of our students and our staff,” he said.
As a product of TPS and where his children were educated, Mr. Parker has a love for public education, he said.
“Especially at TPS, we need someone that’s going to step up and speak out on behalf of our students,” he said.
First Published August 10, 2023, 1:34 p.m.
