Twelve uncontested school-board elections in Pima County may be canceled in an effort to save money.
The request, submitted by Pima County School Superintendent Linda Arzoumanian, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors today.
If approved, the cancellations would save school districts a combined $247,000, said Ricky Hernandez, chief financial officer for the Office of the Pima County School Superintendent.
Should the elections be canceled, the candidates - who meet nomination requirements - would be appointed to their respective seats by the Board of Supervisors.
An approval from the Board of Supervisors would leave contested board races in only five school districts in November: Tucson Unified, Sunnyside, Marana, Vail and Sahuarita.
The uncontested races being considered for cancellation, and the candidates running for them, are:
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• Ajo Unified School District (two seats): Incumbents John F. Byrnes and Rose Frances Cameron.
• Altar Valley Elementary School District (three seats): Incumbents W. John Williams, Robert K. Ethridge and Sharon I. Nicholas.
• Amphitheater Public Schools (three seats): Julie Cozad, Deanna Day and incumbent Kent Barrabee.
• Baboquivari Unified School District (three seats): Ella Mae Greasewood, Marlene Gonzales and incumbent Sara Mae Williams who is seeking a two-year term.
• Catalina Foothills Unified School District (two seats): Incumbent Carole Siegler and Eileen Jackson.
• Continental Elementary School District (three seats): Incumbent William McNarie, Ruth Bennett and Andrew McGibbon.
• Empire Elementary School District (one seat): Wayne Pruett.
• Flowing Wells Unified School District (three seats): Incumbents Thomas S. Jacobs, Jeretta Douglas and James A. Love.
• Pima County Joint Technical Education District (three seats): Wayne Peate, and incumbents Mary Jondrow and Robert Schlanger. This was previously a contested race with four candidates running; however, one withdrew.
• Redington Elementary School District (two seats): Incumbents Jack Kelly and Mary Smallhouse.
• San Fernando Elementary School District (two seats): Incumbents Veronica Jacquez and Bonnie Swarbrick.
• Tanque Verde Unified School District (three seats): Carlos Ruiz, and incumbents Peter A. Livingston and Jeffrey M. Neff.
In filing the request for cancellation, Arzoumanian cited a state law that allows the board of supervisors to cancel a school board election if the number of people filing is equivalent to the number of seats available. The office would be deemed vacant until a person is appointed. That person would be fully vested with the powers and duties of the office as if elected to that office, according to the law.
Additionally, the Board of Supervisors today will consider canceling a number of other uncontested races.
Board races
Contested school board races in Tucson. The election is Nov. 6.
• Tucson Unified - 12 candidates running for three seats.
• Marana - Four candidates, three seats.
• Sahuarita - Four candidates, three seats.
• Sunnyside - Four candidates, three seats.
• Vail - Five candidates, three seats.
Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.
