It’s now a five-way race for Sitka School Board. Two seats are open in this October’s municipal election.
Incumbent Jennifer Robinson has filed to retain her seat for another term.
Jennifer Robinson
Robinson was first elected to the school board in 2012, but she wasn’t on the ballot. Only one candidate filed that year for two open seats on the board, and she decided that “it was time.”
“I jumped on the opportunity and I haven’t regretted it since. I’m really looking forward to running again.”
Robinson says appearing on the ballot will mean a different sort of campaign for her this year, even though the reasons she’s running haven’t changed — she wants the best public education possible Sitka’s children, including her own.
“A few things have changed — my son will be a junior at Pacific High, and I have three nieces in the district as well, at Keet Gooshi Heen, and two at Blatchley. My daughter graduated. She’s class of 2014 at Sitka High School.”
During her current term Robinson has functioned as one of the board’s two primary legislative advocates, making numerous trips to Juneau with board president Lon Garrison. Garrison submitted his resignation this week in order to take a job with state school board association; Robinson says that if voters return her to the board, she’ll continue to make this work a priority.
“If given the opportunity, that’s something that I’ve definitely enjoyed doing. It’s something that I had the opportunity to do for all three years that I’ve served on the board.”
In addition to her service on the school board, Robinson worked as the executive director of the Sitka Chamber of Commerce for four-and-a-half years, until her resignation earlier this summer. She’s now a freelance graphic designer and photographer. Her mother, Mim McConnell, is Sitka’s mayor.
Robinson joins fellow incumbent Cass Pook in seeking reelection to the board. They’re being challenged by newcomers Ed Gray, Eric Van Cise, and Kat Richards
Although both Tom Conley — and now Lon Garrison — have submitted their resignations to the Sitka School Board, neither can be formally accepted until after board’s next regular meeting on August 26th. Conley, who submitted his resignation for health reasons, will likely withdraw it and return to the board. The board will then have 30 days to appoint a replacement for Garrison. The appointee would serve one year.
