Traverse City Record-Eagle

Election 2007

November 7, 2007

It’s Rich and Crandall for TCAPS board

By Lindsay VanHulle

TRAVERSE CITY — Marjie Rich took an early lead in the race for Traverse City’s school board and never looked back.

“I’m pleased,” she said Tuesday from her home, where family and friends gathered as the results were reported. “You never know until the votes come in, and so I guess I was optimistic, but I certainly was not confident.”

In a competitive race for two seats on the Traverse City Area Public Schools board of education, Rich and Megan Crandall bested five other hopefuls, including Kirt Kilbourne, Chris Thompson, Chuck Curtiss, Tom Kachadurian and Derek Christenson.

Rich earned 7,893 votes, or 29 percent, as of press time. Crandall earned 4,580 votes, or 16.8 percent. Kilbourne, who finished third, earned 4,376 votes, or 16.1 percent.

The race was particularly intense, as members of the public called for change after a series of reconfiguration decisions this summer led to a sense of mistrust among many toward the current school board and administration.

All of the candidates advocated change in some form, including greater public involvement and more transparency among board members.

Rich said she plans to talk to parents and administrators alike to learn more before she takes office in January.

She also said she will participate in every school board meeting until then, whether in person or viewing on TV.

“I would like to take the next couple months to really learn more about the issues,” Rich said.

Crandall said she was pleased to learn the results, especially because she didn’t spend as much as other candidates to get her name out to the public.

“I spent less than $300 on the campaign, and I just tried to talk to as many people as I could,” she said. “When somebody else is spending 10 times as much, I was certainly concerned. I’m definitely excited about what’s happened.”

Crandall said she will continue to attend both full board and committee meetings prior to January.

Thompson, who finished fourth, said he realized he likely would not earn a spot on the board, but was pleased with the support he received.

“I am somewhat surprised,” Thompson said.

If he were to run again, Thompson said he would start earlier to allow for more campaign time.

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