Area School Board Candidates Win Elections

Contested school board elections were conducted in Wolf Point, Culbertson, Poplar and Frazer on Tuesday, May 5.

In the election for two positions in Culbertson, the winners were Chris Petersen with 180 votes and Chris Newbill with 137 votes. Other candidates were Wendy Becker with 113 votes and Erin Rhodes with 49 votes.

Petersen said he sought the position because “I am running so I might have a say in my children’s education at a level which is afforded me by a local board position. My top objective includes ensuring all students are afforded the opportunity to an above average education, which would translate to a degree of success in today’s environment.”

Newbill, a write-in candidate, said in a questionnaire prior to the election, “My role would be to keep the district solvent, efficient and moving forward to provide the tools that the educators, staff, and children need to graduate and begin the next phase of their journey. To take the many points of view, circumstances, possibilities and willingness for change, and help turn those difficult decisions into real plans of meaningful, progressive action.”

Four individuals filed for two positions in Poplar. Winning seats were Kenneth Smoker Jr. with 153 votes and Christopher Headdress with 121 votes. Other candidates were Adrian Spotted Bird with 66 votes and Thomas Brown with 47 votes.

Pryce Paulson won the election for the open three-year term in Wolf Point for district 1. Paulson received 85 votes while Darryl Ricker Sr. had 12 votes.

In Frazer, Michael Cole won election with 80 votes. Yancey Beston and Angie M. Toce tied for second with 39.

Other candidates were Chris Miller with 33 and Dorian Talks Different with 20 votes.

Because of the tie between Beston and Toce, a recount was conducted. Vote totals in the recount included Cole with 80 votes, Toce with 41 and Beston with 40 votes.