Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Could change be in the wind for the board room of ISD 831?

That's a possibility following school board election victories by David Gay and Eric M. Langness on Tuesday, Nov. 8. They were elected to four-year terms last week along with Julie Corcoran in a vote that saw the only incumbent on the ballot, Jody Krebs, defeated.

Gay was the top vote getter in the contest followed by Corcoran and Langness.

Julie Corcoran

Both Gay and Langness won election delivering a stern message of opposition to the district's plan to renew its current $6 million a year operating levy and tack on an additional $2 million in tax levy funding.

Less than 24 hours after their victory was achieved, both men were preaching change.

"It is obvious the public wants change in the school district," Langness said from Linwood on Nov. 9 where he and Gay were taking down campaign lawn signs.

Eric Langness

Gay said he felt the election came down to public opposition to the district's request for new funding at a time when it was spending funds for non-classroom purposes. Opposition to the $34 million levy proposal over five years found support, he said.

"Most of the people (voters) agreed with what we were saying," Gay said.

Gay and Langness said an August decision to hire two new non-classroom administrative support positions also did not sit well with the voting public. The school board authorized $210,000 in funding this school year for an assessment and evaluation coordinator and a family services advocate.

Both new hires were approved as the board went about its task of budget add backs following news the district would receive $1.6 million in new state funding this year and $1.8 million in the next school year.

The district had modified its budget by $2 million for this school year, tapping $500,000 from its reserve fund to balance the budget. In all the district has made budget adjustments of more than $4 million over the past three years.

"The two positions illustrated the priorities of the administration and board using state money and asking for more local levy dollars," Gay said. "It looked like classrooms were far down the list."

David Gay

Langness, a harsh critic of the district and Superintendent Lynn Steenblock during the campaign, said the decision to add the new positions was a "crushing blow for the levy."

The decision, he said, gave many district residents a reason to vote against the levy.

"That's one of the many things the board has done that are irresponsible," Langness said.

Fortune changes

For Gay and Langness, the school board victory marked a change of political fortune.

Four years ago Gay ran for the school board but did not come close to election. During a year when the current $6 million excess levy won strong public support, he was barely a contender in the school board race with 1196 votes, a total almost three times lower than his winning total Nov. 8.

By contrast, the 2001 board race saw pro-levy candidates Rebecca Otto (Vote Yes chair), Dean Barr and Krebs elected. The same contest saw challengers Dick Tschida and then incumbent Lee Robinson on the losing end of the ballot.

For Krebs, the change of fortune was most dramatic.

She garnered 5244 votes in her successful bid for public office in 2001. But in her reelection bid last week, she slumped to 3462 votes and could not carry her home precinct of Columbus Township where she was second to Gay.

Fortune also changed for Langness in stunning fashion.

Langness, 27, ran for one of two Forest Lake City Council seats a year ago. He received 510 votes and was last in a nine-candidate field for the four-year term. Now he has secured a four-year term on the school board.

As they prepare to launch their school board terms in January, both men say they will encourage a detailed look at spending to help determine how and where school funds are being used.

Both men said they were somewhat surprised by their margin of victory but said it certainly reflected the mood of the community.

That marks a change, too, they said, from past school board elections where pro-levy candidates were all elected and those who were critical of the spending plan were turned away from office.

The victory Nov. 8 was a pleasant feeling, Gay said.

"It's a lot better experience picking up the (lawn) signs after you win," he said.

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