Five running for four school board seats
Election now competitive; filing deadline Sept. 9By KREMI SPENGLER — Journal Staff Writer
NEW ULM - Two more candidates have joined the three who have filed for election to the District 88 school board this November, creating a competitive race.
Vincent Branch, a Wal-Mart employee, and incumbent Susan Nierengarten, a local attorney, filed for election Sept. 5.
Patti Gramentz, a member service representative at SouthPoint Federal Credit Union, and Patricia Hoffman, a faculty member of Minnesota State University, Mankato, filed Sept. 4.
Incumbent Carol Ackerson, a retired District 88 English teacher, filed in late August.
In the absence of a primary, the filing period for school board office runs Aug. 26 to Sept. 9.
Four seats are opening up on the board - those currently held by Ackerson, Marc Burkhart, Susan Nierengarten and Sheldon Rieke.
Burkhart said last week he would not run, citing professional commitments. Rieke said he was in the process of making a decision.
Among the incumbents, Ackerson is completing a four-year term on the board. It is her second term - immediately preceding it, she served her first, two-year, term. Nierengarten is completing her second four-year term on the board.
The new filers were either reached on the phone or volunteered e-mail statements Friday. They are listed alphabetically by last name:
* Reached on the phone Friday, Branch, 43, said he is running for school board because he feels that "more of the younger parents need to start getting involved with the school board and with the school system."
* Gramentz shared the following statement with the Journal:
"I feel that the current board is doing a good job, and I want to carry on the positive direction that it is heading by bringing youth responsible spending and budgeting. As a new member to the board, I would be able to bring some new ideas and a different perspective from a younger generation. We need to be using what we have and not going beyond our means. While my children are not yet able to attend school, I wish to take an active part in the district and the direction it is heading prior to my children being students.
"Overall, I want to take an active role in children's educational future..."
Gramentz, 27, is a married mother of two, according to the information she sent the Journal.
* #Reached on the phone Friday, Hoffman said she is running because "children are a priority" and "education is a legacy we leave to them."
She was prompted to run because there appeared to be "very little interest in the job" and "it's an important job," she also said.
Hoffman is a faculty member of Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has previously taught for District 88 on two occasions. She has, overall, worked for four school districts.
* Nierengarten shared in a statement:
"In the eight years that I have served on the school board, the district has faced serious challenges in financial matters, declining enrollment, increased demand for services, mandated changes in graduation standards, and many other areas. The school board has made many tough decisions to meet those challenges, and has always been guided by the principle that our most important function is to providethe best possible education toour community's children. I am proud of that and want to do my part to make sure it continues."
Nierengarten moved to New Ulm in 1977 and has spend her entire professional career here.
Ackerson previously said she is running because she feels she can still contribute something to the school system.
