New candidate for local school board

HARTINGTON – A new candidate is seeking a seat on the Randolph Public Schools board Tiffany Gatzemeyer filed paperwork with the Cedar County Clerk’s Office last week, officially filing for the seat that will appear on the May primary ballot.

Gatzemeyer grew up in Osmond on a multi-generational farm but moved to Norfolk where she made a home with her husband, Brent.

“Once we had kids and sending kids to a larger school system, we had that conversation and realized the benefits of moving to a smaller community. It was always our goal to move back to a smaller community, we just didn’t know when, how or where.”

The Gatzemeyers have now lived in Randolph for the past three years and their two children, seventh- grader Anniston, and third-grader Cade, attend Randolph Public Schools.

She has never run for public office before but has served on multiple boards including Randolph Summer Youth, Carroll Housing Board, finance chair of the Yankton Area United Way board, and the Elkhorn Valley Museum (Norfolk) board. She is currently the vice president and branch manager at Nebraska Bank in Carroll.

“Throughout my career, I’ve worked with a very diverse set of people,” she said. “That’s one of my qualities and strengths, working with different opinions and all getting along in the same room.”

Gatzemeyer said she sees herself as a relationship builder. “I listen to the opinions of others and based on my experience make the soundest decision possible,” she said.

Cody Backer, Randolph, has filed for re-election to retain his seat on the school board. Two other incumbents, Lisa Linville and Jim Scott, had not filed for re-election as of Monday morning.

The two incumbents with expiring terms on the Randolph city council - Ted Stubbs and Janelle Biernbaum - had not yet filed for re-election as of Monday morning. The incumbent deadline is set for Thursday, Feb. 15 while anyone new has until Friday, March 1.