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.

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Voter Guide

ISD #2805 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-boardIf your candidate didn’t fill in the guide below, visit the Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing site to find contact info (https://candidates.sos.mn.gov/). If you reach out, ask candidates to complete their Vote411 Voters Guide from LWVMN!

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

    Travis Liffrig
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Paul Peterman
    (NP)

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    Jean Roth
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Jake Rude
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Jim Wendt
    (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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Campaign Email jeanroth@hcinet.net
My track record shows that I am the best candidate for ZM school board. As a public school educator for more than 31 years, 29 of them at Zumbrota, Mazeppa, I have a strong and deep understanding of staff and students. As an active school board member for 12 years, I hold a wealth of knowledge and application for what it means to be a highly effective school board member. I have taken full advantage of the numerous opportunities increasing my understanding of the role of school boards though training, meetings, conferences, and consultation with Minnesota, School Board Association, as well as actively serving on school related boards and committees, including MSBA Delegate Assembly.
My top priorities are: the education and safety of our students and staff, hiring and retaining the highest quality staff we can possibly find, and being fiscally responsible. My priorities are interconnected as our staff and students need to feel safe and secure in order to teach and learn. Our PEOPLE are our greatest asset. Being fiscally responsible is necessary in order to continue to not only provide opportunities and afford solid education but to answer to the tax payers we represent
I have been a part of budget cuts, and learned quickly there are many opinions and approaches to cutting. As a school board member we are trusted to govern, not manage. Effective communication and transparency are key to getting through the process. We have professional business management and a superintendent trusted to present the facts, discuss and answer questions, and offer options. Based on information presented, which may be provided by all staff, recommendations are voted on.
The key here is to be proactive by having resources in place, to the best of our ability, to address the numerous layers to this question. Equity in education requires participation from a variety of providers that require involvement with school and community. As a board member it is critical that I am aware of the identified needs and that I support our counselors, social workers, administrators, and more by ensuring they are equipped to address disparities .
I have been a participant in our District Advisory Committee for several years. The committee is made up of parents, students, staff, community members, administration, and board members. We are challenged to identify needs of the district, collaborate openly about concerns and solutions. I have found that regular meetings with the teacher's union leaders and board committee can be an effective means for constructive resolution and awareness. Patrons are always welcome at board meetings.
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Campaign Email muleman51@charter.net
I may not be the best but I do know I am at least second best. We have a great school, I want to keep it that way. We have great teachers and admin. I was onthe board 24 years and would like to contribute more. I have seen many changes in education and want to continue to have a proggresive school that offers as much variety as we can to our students. All students have the right to as good an education as we can provide. I hope that I can help further that.

In the past we have maintained and added to our schools as needed and hope to continue.

My two sons graduated from ZM and I currently have a grandson at ZM. I also graduated from Zumbrota. I have lived in Zumbrota for 60 plus years.
The main purpose of a school board is to provide for the education of the next generations. We do this by providing and keeping competent and dedicated staff of administrators, educators and auxiliary staff.

I have no top priorities. All aspects of school are important.
There are only two places to cut a budget that are not fixed, personnel or programs. This is why we hire competent admin to help with budget cuts, they give the board the list and the board reviews and decides how and where to cutor add to them. We do this where it cuts the least amount of programs and maintains the educational quality.
I would hope that we do not have a problem,but I am sure that we have some. All students have the right to the same quality education and to be free of harasment. I am not a social worker nor a guidance couselor, the school has them on staff to help with issue like this. I am sure if they brought it to the board it would addressed appropriately.
My phone number will be listed on the school website. Teachers and families are welcome to contact me. I will do my best to entertain there issues. If needed the board has open meetings prior to board meetings.
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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.

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