Incumbent out in front for RPS Board

RANDOLPH – Ted Thelen may not be the next Randolph Public Schools Board member, but he feels any of the six candidates moving forward to the general election would serve the district well.

In the May 14 primary election, Thelen and Lucas Stueckrath did not receive enough votes to move on in the race. Thelen received 158 votes and Stueckrath, 78. Voters in Cedar, Pierce and Wayne counties vote for the local board. In a field of eight candidates for three open spots, the top six move on to face off in the general election in November including Cody Backer with 365 votes; Chris Winkelbauer, 288 votes; Marvin Nordhues, 216; Tiffany Gatzemeyer, 213; Corby Robinson, 212; and Anson Dockhorn, 192 votes.

“It’s hard when there’s so many candidates to spread the votes around,” Thelen said. “All of them are very good and good luck to everybody in the general.”

Stueckrath said he wasn’t sure why the votes didn’t fall his way. “It is what it is,” he said. Thelen said he would be open to running again. “If the right situation comes about I think I would,” he said. Backer is the incumbent, having served on the board already for two terms and looking to keep his seat for a third term. He said his record on the board may have resonated with voters.

“I want to thank everyone for voting for me and I’m just going to keep doing what’s in the best interest for the school and the kids,” he said.