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Nine hopefuls vying to fill vacancy on Marietta Board of Education

MARIETTA — Nine people have expressed interest in the open seat on the Marietta City Schools Board of Education with a decision expected today.

Board Member Greg Gault resigned due to health concerns. Gault previously served on the board from 2008 until the end of 2015 and was only back on the board for three months before he resigned.

“We will make a decision before our next meeting,” said Superintendent Will Hampton. “We will hold a special meeting in executive session at 2 p.m. (today) and then have the decision made before our regular board meeting at 6 p.m. in the administration’s office.”

The term for the seat, which was originally held by Don Atkins, who also stepped down for health reasons, expires Dec. 31 and the seat will appear again for voter decision on the November ballot.

Among the candidates are a variety of residents that express concerns for the education in Marietta City Schools.

Dr. Zane Lazer, 46, of Marietta, is an eye surgeon in the community. He started college at age 16 and graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine as one of the youngest students in the history of the medical school. He said he became interested in the position after President Donald Trump announced Betsy DeVos would join his administration as U.S. Education Secretary.

“I’m concerned she lacks competence and rather than complain about it, I want to see that Marietta won’t be affected by her decision making,” he said. “My daughter is 10 years old and a student at Putnam. I want to be more involved in making sure she receives a quality education.”

Lazer also serves on the board for the Ely Chapman Education Foundation.

“In a small, rural area, the real ticket is education,” he said. “That’s in jeopardy and I want to be involved.”

Many of the other applicants are also concerned parents in the district.

Betsy Robinson, 48, of Marietta, is a homemaker who’s had two of her children successfully graduate from the Marietta City Schools system and has one child still in the district.

“I saw in the paper that they needed someone to fill the vacancy,” she said. “I’ve always thought to serve and as a parent, I feel it’s important to be a part of the education system and make positive changes.”

Robinson said she has nothing to complain about in the district but would still like to be able to do something.

“I just want to help and serve the kids,” she said. “The kids are what it’s all about.”

Lawyer Ethan Vessels, 43, of Marietta, has three children in the district and said he’s interested in the position for his children.

“I am a product of public education from elementary school all the way through law school and I’m a big believer in public education,” he said. “I don’t think it would be wise to criticize anything the board does if I don’t want to get involved.”

Another applicant, Jim Raney, 70, of Marietta, currently serves on the Washington County Behavioral Health Board. He also has served on the Board of Education for Fairfax County in Virginia which is the 11th largest school board in the country.

“There’s a difference between the administration and the board that a lot of people don’t understand but I do with my previous experience,” he said. “I want to volunteer my public service and serve on the board. I would hope to have my skills contribute in the next 10 months.”

Throwing their hats back into the ring for another attempt at the seat on the board are Marietta residents John Lehman, 55, and Doug Mallett, 62.

Lehman is president of Alliance Industries Inc. and has tried for a board seat several times, including in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Lehman has said the board has interviewed him before and knows what he has to offer.

Mallett applied for this seat earlier in the term along with Lehman. He is the owner of Mallett Rentals and has said his experience as a businessman in the community would be beneficial to the board. Mallett was also an advocate for former Marietta High School basketball coach and Marietta Middle School Athletic Coordinator Mark Duckworth, whose contract was not renewed in the district. That is what drove him to try for the board seat before and again this time, he has said.

Herman Hambrick, 83, of Marietta, said he feels he has the experience needed to add to the board.

“I’ve served on a board before … I’m an electrical engineer and also an accountant,” he said. “My main interest isn’t that I have any certain agenda but to give the superintendent and the board another choice for filling the position with someone who is qualified.”

Other people interested in the position include Marietta residents Ryan Herb, 39, and Prudence Burgardt. The two were unable to be reached for comment.

Herb addressed the Marietta City Schools Board of Education during its regular meeting in December to tell them his 13-year-old daughter was physically and verbally assaulted by her basketball coach. He expressed concerns that an investigation was not taken place. Hampton recently stated that a thorough investigation had taken place.

Burgardt is the creative director at Peddler of Dreams Art Space for Children on Front Street and has children in the Marietta district. She also is an alumni of Marietta High School.

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