SIX CANDIDATES VYING FOR THREE SEATS ON BURTON SCHOOL BOARD

  

There are several races of note across the state and the nation in the general election tomorrow (Tuesday), but one local race will have an impact on the future of Burton ISD.

The Burton School Board has three at-large positions up for election, and six candidates are seeking the public’s vote for those seats: incumbent Misty Lucherk, Dean Fuchs, Boris Jumper, Sr., Sue Pinkerton, Donna Boehnemann Putnam, and Ricky Ripple.  The candidates are running for the seat held by Lucherk, as well as the seats of Felton Cox and Ande Bostain, neither of whom are seeking re-election.

In a written statement to KWHI, Lucherk, who has served on the board since 2011, said she treats any decision affecting the students in Burton ISD as one that would affect her own children.  She said she wants to be sure that each person in the district, whether it be a student or staff member, has the tools they need to be successful.

Fuchs is a retired teacher and administrator with 30 years of experience in Boling, Columbus, and Katy.  He said one of his primary goals is to continue building support for the school district within the community.

 

Jumper is retired, with 28 years of experience with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department in Giddings.  He believes that maintaining communication between the community and the school district is very important, and wants to be a voice of the people on the board.

 

Pinkerton, while not having teaching experience, said she has learned much from the several school teachers and administrators in her family, along with raising her own children.  If elected to the board, she hopes to provide a fresh perspective.

 

Putnam has 36 years of education experience, working in Brenham, Burton, and Conroe ISDs.  In addition to more classrooms and better facilities, she wants to make sure teachers and staff are given what they need to properly teach students.

 

Ripple has not responded to KWHI’s request for comment for this story.

At last month's Burton School Board meeting, trustee Tracey Cox announced her resignation, saying she is moving out of the district.  The resignation will not have an effect on this school board election, and the position vacancy will be addressed at a later date.

Voters for the school board election can head to one of four polling places on Election Day: the Burton Community Center at 13100 West Washington Street, Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Greenvine at 6700 Wickel Road, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gay Hill at 8201 Old Gay Hill Road, and St. John Lutheran Church in Prairie Hill at 6605 Old Independence Road.  Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.