CDA school board incumbents ahead

Hotly-contested school board races were undecided at press time.

COEUR D’ALENE SCHOOL BOARD

Incumbent Lisa May faced challenger Allie Anderton in the race for Zone 1. She had 53% of the vote around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, with 41% of precincts reported.

In a statement to The Press, May thanked the community for its support through a grueling campaign.

“This campaign has been challenging to say the least,” she said. “I could never have imagined that my own children would be attacked on social media for political gain.”

She said she hopes the community will come together for the sake of the area’s kids.

“Our children are our greatest resource and a strong public education system is the key to Coeur d’Alene’s future,” she said.

Anderton did not respond to a request for comment.

Zone 4 candidate Lindsey Swingrover led opponent Lesli Bjerke by nine points, with 54% of the vote and 60% of precincts reported.

After what she described as a “brutal” election cycle, Swingrover said she’s honored to have support from the community.

“It’s been really humbling just to hear how many people are positive and hopeful and have thrown themselves into this,” she said. “I can’t say thanks enough.”

Bjerke did not respond to a request for comment.

Zone 5 incumbent Rebecca Smith led with 54% of the vote and 83% of precincts reported.

“I’m extremely thankful for all the incredible support I’ve seen, not only for myself, but for our school district and our teachers and students,” she said. “The Coeur d’Alene School District has a bright future.”

Her opponent, Glen Campbell, did not respond to a request for comment.

POST FALLS SCHOOL BOARD

Zone 1 candidate Guy McAninch led with 60% of the vote at 12:45 a.m., with 33% of precincts reported. He could not be reached for comment.

His opponent, Neil Uhrig, is a Post Falls Police Department detective sergeant who’s lived in North Idaho since 2011. His children attend Post Falls schools.

Uhrig expressed frustration with how politicized the nonpartisan school board race became, particularly regarding mask mandates and critical race theory, an academic concept that is not taught in Post Falls schools.

“Those are not the real issues facing our school district, but it was politicized to make it the big issue,” he said. “Focusing on things that are not happening is just disingenuous. It’s a lie.”

Zone 4 incumbent Bridget Malek led with 53% of the vote but only 33% of precincts reported.

She said she’s grateful to have her community’s support.

“It means the world to me,” she said. “I really do care about our community. I care about our kiddos. I care about our teachers. I will continue to pursue everything of our students and teachers to make sure they’re getting everything they need to succeed."

Her opponent, Logan Creighton, could not be reached for comment.

Political newcomer Jake Dawson had a seven-point over David J. Reilly, a recent Pennsylvania transplant who received national criticism for writings that disparaged Jewish people, women and other demographics.

Dawson had 53% of the vote at press time, with 67% of precincts reported.

“I’m passionate about my community,” Dawson said. “I’ve been really blessed and it’s been a great opportunity.”

Reilly had no comment by press time.

LAKELAND SCHOOL BOARD

Zone 4 candidate Mark Worthen had a narrow lead over opponent David Quimby, with 52% of the vote and 29% of precincts reported.

“I had people come out of the woodwork for this,” Worthen said. “I have real love for the school district.”

David Quimby could not be reached for comment.

Robert “Bob” Jones had garnered 52% of the vote for Zone 5 at press time, with 20% of precincts reported.

His opponent, Debbie Major, had 47% of the votes.

Neither Jones nor Major responded to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, the Lakeland effort to recall School Board Chair Michelle Thompson was failing, with 60% of votes against the recall and 37% of precincts reported.