Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
  • Build your ballot before voting. Print or email the information to use as a reference when you actually vote.

We do not save your information; it will be lost when you leave this page. Only candidates that appear on your ballot will be listed. Additional information may be available for your area so be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for other voters’ guides.

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Voter Guide

ISD #413 School Board Member {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

School board members oversee the care, management, and control of schools. This includes hiring, firing, and overseeing superintendents, who manage the day-to-day affairs of the district. They also set levies to fund the district and create school policies.Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-school-board

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Matt Coleman
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Mary Swanson
    (NP)

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    Timothy Van Moer
    (NP)

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    Anne Veldhuisen
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Anne Marie Vorbach
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Charlotte Wahle
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)

How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)

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Contact Phone 5075306538
Campaign Email mswanson1815@gmail.com
I feel that my background, passion for education and learning as well as my commitment to my community are a great mix for the Marshall School Board. I also had one child graduate from Marshall and currently have a child in the high school. So I am an invested parent as well and can bring that perspective to my chair on the school board. I am proud of the work that all the staff at the Marshall public school are currently doing to serve our children and the community. I would like to be a part of not only continuing that momentum but growing and improving to face the many challenges that lie ahead for the public schools in the future. So we can continue to provide top level education for our community for many years to come .
The first thing I would like to do is take time to listen to all involved in the school system, students, parents , staff, and community members to hear their thoughts on what is working well and what are the areas for opportunity. Then I would like to work on communication throughout the district. I believe that a lot of work has been done and would like to see that continue. Third would be to work on diversity and inclusion for all students and families.
I would take time to review the data and what programs are working well and what we could consider for reduction. As well as looking at programs that we could partner with private companies to help fund and reduce cost to the budget . There would need to be many conversations and research into where funds are currently going and what we could do to reduce costs first. Working on budgets is never an easy process but there are many options sometimes to help figure out the best solutions for all.
I think this is a challenge with many layers, and because of those many different factors there is never one answer to this issue. I do believe that the solution starts with honest conversations with all involved that includes what needs currently exists. As well as what resources are available and a review of access to all those resources. The start of the solution is communication and a desire to change.
I believe that it starts with parents becoming involved in their students education. It starts with us asking the teachers how we can support them. For following up on their needs and requests and listening to them and what challenges they are facing and creating solutions together .
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Powered by League of Women Voters Education Fund

The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

VOTE411 is brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office.