Four candidates, including three incumbents, vie for West Holmes school board seats

Voters will have four choices for three spots on the West Holmes Local Schools Board of Education for the Nov. 4 election.

The four candidates in the race are incumbents Andrew Jones, Hans Ramseyer and Tina Zickefoose and newcomer Ezra Day.

Here’s a quick look at why Jones, Zickefoose and Day are running and their top priorities for the board if elected (Ramseyer could not be reached for comment):

Andrew Jones

"Almost 25 years ago, I was asked to be a part of the Levy Committee to build a new high school for West Holmes. Since that time I have been very active in the West Holmes District as a parent, supporter, coach, committee member and eight years ago was elected as a board member.

"My priority, if elected, would be to have a successful completion of the new elementary school and then focus on upgrades to other older facilities such as the middle school and athletic facilities.

"We have a great school district full of compassionate teachers, staff and administrators who strive every day to make West Holmes the best that it can be. It has been a pleasure to serve the last eight years as your board member, and I would appreciate your vote for another term. Go Knights."

Tina Zickefoose

"I have always been proud to be a member of the West Holmes community. There have been many changes in my 12 years on the board, and as with life, change and growth can be both wonderful and painful. What never changes is the passion and excitement of seeing our students thrive and grow to their full potential.

"Representing West Holmes on the Heartland Technical Education Center board for the past seven years has been rewarding as well. Just in my tenure on their board, enrollment has doubled, as they continue to offer an array of vocational classes to help our students succeed.

"Student achievement, fiscal responsibility and safety are my top three priorities. Our grade card is improving, we continue to be innovative and conservative in our spending, and no child should feel unsafe at school, be it emotional or physical. When we work together, nothing is impossible."

Ezra Day

"Prioritizing learning in our education system is at the forefront of my journey in working with our educators and administration in the West Holmes Schools. Education is more than sitting in a classroom or simply attending school; rather, it’s an opportunity to study how each person learns new information. We are preparing our children for a lifetime pursuit of learning, processing new material and enjoying the challenge of new adventures. When our students graduate, I want them to be problem-solvers, solution-focused and confident to tackle any obstacles that arise on their journey to success.

"Generating success requires understanding the problem, identifying potential solutions and creating a focused team that can implement the tailored solution. As a Marine veteran and Holmes County native, I have taught, coached and mentored successful teams through an array of challenges and am looking forward to the opportunity to serve our community through education."