Brumley drops out of school board race

COEUR d’ALENE — Coeur d’Alene school board Chair Jennifer Brumley will not seek re-election, she said Tuesday.

Brumley had filed to retain her Zone 4 seat before last Friday’s deadline but changed her mind.

In an interview Tuesday with The Press, Brumley said school board responsibilities have outgrown the major duties of the past — primarily fiscal oversight and curricular decisions. Her education focus will shift instead to her daughter, a middle school student.

“That’s where my prayers led me,” she said. “My extra time needs to be funneled in that direction.”

Brumley acknowledged that the changing political climate also influenced her decision to withdraw from the race.

“The town I grew up in … the parent facet is very different,” said Brumley, a family law attorney with Amendola, Doty & Brumley PLLC.

That facet, she said, “moving into the community has made navigating as a trustee more difficult.”

Brumley defended the educators who are subjected to intense criticism by loud, new voices in the vocal group.

“The people in education right now, I think they’re amazing and I don’t think they’ve changed over time,” she said.

Brumley will continue until the next school board is seated in January. She said she strongly supports incumbent school board members Lisa May and Rebecca Smith.

Brumley said she wasn’t prepared to endorse one of the three candidates now seeking the Zone 4 seat.

“I can tell you one I wouldn’t endorse - Lesli Bjerke,” Brumley said. “I would be very concerned about her.”

Brumley said Bjerke's affiliation with the Idaho Freedom Foundation and John Birch Society should serve as a warning to voters.

The Press will offer extensive coverage leading up to the Nov. 2 elections. A voters guide will be published Oct. 17, then updated with a new publication Sunday, Oct. 31.