Keely Baumgartner, 36, filed as a write in candidate for school board this week.
A registered nurse at SEARHC Haines Health Clinic and Haines High School graduate, Baumgartner sits on the Haines School’s health advisory committee. The committee meets weekly to discuss pandemic-related issues as the school year progresses. She said the experience made her want to run for school board, but she didn’t file by the Aug. 20 deadline for candidacy.
“This last week a lot of people approached me and were really encouraging me to do it so I committed,” Baumgartner said. “I have a ton of respect and admiration for the school board and what they accomplished and how they handled themselves during this crazy time. I would love to be a part of that team in a more official way.”
Baumgartner’s husband, Jordan, is the sixth-grade teacher and she has two children enrolled in the school. She said she’s not running on any specific issue, but wants to contribute to and take part in the work of the board.
“I feel a little behind and I don’t want to take away from candidates that did the work to campaign,” Baumgartner said. “I just want to be a choice if people want something different.”
According to borough code, write-in candidates can file up to five days before the election. Voters must write in Baumgartner’s full name on the ballot and fill in the oval next to her name in order for the vote to be tallied.
Baumgartner’s filing makes her the sixth candidate running for four open seats. Other candidates include incumbents Michael Wald and Brian Clay, and Kevin Shove, Shannon Dryden and Jonathan Wray.
Readers can find more information about the candidates’ background in the story “Five candidates run for contested school board election” in the Sept. 2 issue of the CVN.
This year’s school board election is the first contested election in recent memory.