County Democratic Party Chair to Run for Nonpartisan School Board Seat

Cathy Leaf, chairwoman of the St. Croix County Democratic Party, filed the necessary paperwork on Thursday to run for a seat on the Board of Education, according to the superintendent's office.

School board positions are nonpartisan, and Leaf says she's running as a mom, not as a Democrat. 

"I’m running for school board to ensure that the Hudson School District continues to provide a quality education for its students," Leaf said. "My husband and I moved to Hudson in large part because of the quality of the school district. But our district faces many challenges that need to be addressed in a realistic manner that supports our children’s educational needs, first and foremost. My degree in education, experience as a local business owner and, most importantly, my concern as a parent with a child currently in this district will bring a unique perspective to the board."

Jesse Garza, chairman of the St. Croix County Republican Party, doesn't think Leaf would be able to separate her partisan views from school board business.

"I think it would be a disaster if she won," Garza said. "Her partisan leadership and support of what her party is doing to this state and our community would be brought to the schools. She has an agenda she is trying to push and she wants to look out for union interests and not the interests of our kids."

If she wins a seat, Leaf wouldn't be the first local partisan to hold nonpartisan office. Daryl Standafer serves as treasurer for Republican State Sen. Sheila Harsorf's campaign. Standafer is also chair of the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors and a trustee on the Board.

So far, the following four candidates have filed the necessary paperwork to appear on the ballot in the spring 2012 school board election:

• Barbara Van Loenen
• Brian Bell
• Catherine Larson Leaf
• Elizabeth Bruch
• Tom Holland*

Van Loenen, Holland and Bell are school board incumbents, while Leaf and Bruch are challengers.*

Individuals interested in running for school board have until 5 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2012, to file the paperwork in the school district office. The election will be held on April 3, 2012. If seven or more candidates file, a primary will be held on Feb. 21.

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Interested in running for office?

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* Information about Tom Holland filing for candidacy was added to this post at 1:40 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2011.