Primary win fuels campaign for Sequim schools candidate

Hopeful previously attempted to withdraw from race

Kristi Schmeck

Kristi Schmeck

SEQUIM — Both candidates vying for an open Sequim School Board director seat this fall want to keep Critical Race Theory from reaching Sequim students.

Kristi Schmeck and Virginia Sheppard advanced to the 2021 general election after earning 3,057 votes (28.85 percent) and 3,029 votes (28.58 percent), respectively, in the Aug. 3 primary election as they vie for the school board’s director-at-large position to be vacated by Brandino Gibson.

Rachel Tax came in a close third with 2,842 votes (26.8 percent) and Derek Huntington placed fourth (1,651 votes, 15.6 percent).

Schmeck initially filed for the seat but said she attempted to withdraw before the primary election for personal reasons.

Virginia Sheppard.

Virginia Sheppard.

However, she made her decision known after the deadline, so her name remained on the primary ballot. Since she won the top number of votes in the primary, her name is on the general election ballot.

“I did try to officially withdraw; however, I spoke with the Elections office and in their mind, I am still a candidate,” Schmeck said by email last week.

“After the results came from the primary I changed my mind.”

Clallam County Auditor Shoona Riggs said candidates who file for election must withdraw by the Monday after filing week for their names to not appear on the primary and general election ballots.

In the Clallam County Voters Guide, Schmeck lists her professional experience as an educator/coach for more than 25 years and a charter school athletic director.

She also volunteered as a middle school youth group leader at a church for the past two years, ran an after-school program at Sequim Middle School (2019-2020) and volunteered for sports programs as a coach and manager for basketball, baseball and swimming teams.

“I decided to run for school board because of my passion and love for children, their health and future success,” Schmeck wrote last week.

“As a teacher with experience from elementary to high school, I had the privilege of impacting children, as a school board member I see an opportunity to impact a system that is in need of change.”

Schmeck said her teaching experience in Sequim Middle School and passion for success and well-being of the community of students was evident in her statement.

“Also, I encourage and support after school programs. Lastly, I am a mother and grandmother,” she said.

Sheppard, a long-time Clallam County resident, said in a press release in May that she will be focused on “an educational environment that fosters growth, community and citizenship.”

Sheppard is a mother of two and a grandmother, with four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She has experience in the schools as a former volunteer art teacher and teacher’s aide, as well as a treasurer for parent-teacher groups.

She is supported in her bid by the Independent Advisory Association.

Two director positions with the Sequim School Board were up for election this year after both incumbents declined to run for re-election. Gibson, the school board’s president, and Brian Kuh, District 2 director, both declined to file for their positions during the mid-May filing period.

While four candidates filed for Gibson’s seat just one, Patrice (“Pat”) Johnston, filed for Kuh’s District 2 position.

CRT, sex ed

In early August, Sheppard wrote in an email that she’s hearing from parents, citizens and students who are concerned about Critical Race Theory (CRT) and state sex education curriculum.

“Parents and grandparents want their right to raise their children and to have the schools get back to being teachers instead of pseudo parents under government control,” she said in an email last week.

In her Primary Election candidate statement, Sheppard said: “I am concerned about the move toward implementing subjects like Critical Race Theory imprudently which if implemented without proper community vetting can serve only to divide and discriminate. I believe our children can benefit from learning about accurate history, learning about the Constitution, reading, writing and math.”

Schmeck said she and Sheppard are “on the same page in regards to why we are running for school board,” in an email.

“As a school board member our responsibility is to represent the community, parents and our students,” Schmeck said. “My main concerns are the implementation of Critical Race Theory, the new adopted sex education program (CSE), and parents rights.

“I believe that CRT is an instrument of racism and discrimination. I am opposed to anything that is offered to our children without parental consent.”

Sequim Superintendent Jane Pryne addressed both Critical Race Theory and sex education curriculum issues at the Aug. 2 school board meeting.

“I wanted to clear up some things: We don’t teach Critical Race Theory; (it) doesn’t appear anywhere in the law,” she said.

The district does teach cultural competency standards that will be available for viewing on the district website, sequimschools.org.

Parents can have their children opt out of sex education curriculum, she said, and students in grades kindergarten through three do not receive sex education lessons.

“We’ll make sure parents are well aware of what’s being taught (and of their) option to opt in or opt out,” Pryne said.

________

Michael Dashiell is the editor of the Sequim Gazette of the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which also is composed of other Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News and Forks Forum. Reach him at editor@sequimgazette.com.

More in Politics

Kevin Van De Wege.
Sen. Van De Wege resigns seat

State Sen. Kevin Van De Wege resigned his expiring legislative… Continue reading

Congressional candidate talks immigration, fiscal issues

Drew MacEwen says budget cuts need to be made, reinvested

Hand recount ordered for commissioner of public lands

The Secretary of State has certified the results of… Continue reading

Herrera Beutler, Upthegrove in top two for public lands

Commissioner of Public Lands continued to be the closest… Continue reading

Upthegrove moves into top two for state public lands commissioner

Dave Upthegrove, a Democrat, gained a slight advantage to… Continue reading

Drew MacEwan, left, and Emily Randall.
Randall, MacEwen lead for seat in Congress

State senators looking to replace U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer

Darryl Wolfe.
Voters approve OMC lid lift

‘Humbled by support,’ hospital CEO says

Heather Dudley-Nollette, left, and Ben Thomas.
Dudley-Nollette leads Thomas for Jefferson County commissioner

Heather Dudley-Nollette held a sizable lead over Ben Thomas… Continue reading

tharinger roberts
Tharinger, Roberts advance for state House, Position 2

Incumbent Steve Tharinger will face challenger Terry Roberts for… Continue reading

Randy Johnson, left, and Kate Dexter.
Incumbent, Port Angeles mayor to vie for Clallam commissioner seat

Incumbent Randy Johnson and Port Angeles mayor Kate Dexter… Continue reading

Bernbaum, Roberson lead state House race

Tharinger, Roberts also advance; Chapman to face Kelbon in Senate contest

Randall, MacEwen advance in race for Congressional seat

Emily Randall and Drew MacEwen edged out three other… Continue reading