The three Jefferson County school board members who as newcomers prevailed in a hard-fought recall election in 2015 will kick off their re-election campaigns for November’s ballot Tuesday in Wheat Ridge.
Brad Rupert, Susan Harmon and board president Ron Mitchell will make an official announcement about their re-election efforts at 7 p.m. at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center.
The trio ran as a block two years ago and managed to oust three board members who stirred controversy over their approach to teacher pay, curriculum priorities and the appointment of a new superintendent. The political atmosphere on the board became so contentious in 2014 that students took to the streets in protest and teachers staged sick-outs.
Ken Witt, Julie Williams and John Newkirk were recalled by district voters in November 2015 and Rupert, Harmon and Mitchell were chosen to take their seats.
The two other board members for Colorado’s second-largest school district, Ali Lasell and Amanda Stevens, don’t face re-election until 2019.
