Only about 10% of registered voters showed up to cast ballots in the May RISD school board election, but that’s not the bad news. In Lake Highlands, it was closer to 2%. In many LH areas – traditional voting stalwarts – only about 10% as many citizens came out to vote as did in the 2011 contest.
Two seats were unopposed – Karen Holburn and Kris Oliver won reelection handily – but veteran trustee Lanet Greenhaw was thrown into a runoff with newcomer Rachel Chumney in Place 4. That election is June 15. Early voting began Monday and continues through June 10. You can vote in the runoff even if you didn’t vote in the general election, and it doesn’t matter where you live in RISD – Place 4 (and all trustees) represent us all.
The question will be whether LH will finally show up and whether we’ll swing the election one way or another. Chumney, mom of three RISD students including one with special needs, has shaken lots of hands since beginning her campaign (though she admits she never attended a school board meeting before deciding to run). Greenhaw, mom of three RISD graduates, is well-known throughout LH due to her 15 years of service in the district. In May, Chumney received 45% of the vote and Greenhaw got 42%. The winner must earn 50%.
If you’d like to see where the candidates stand on the issues, you can watch a video here of a League of Women Voters forum held before the general election. A forum planned by the fine arts boosters clubs of RISD was canceled after Greenhaw agreed to participate and Chumney declined.
You can vote early at the Richardson Civic Center, 411 W. Arapaho. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. June 3 through June 8; 1-6 p.m. June 9 and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. June 10. Election day (June 15) polling places are listed here and are all over LH.