Union backs two of four incumbents for District 191 board
Two of the four incumbents in November’s District 191 School Board election made the list of candidates endorsed by the Burnsville Education Association.
The teachers union local announced Monday it is backing retired teacher and administrator Steve Dove, marketing specialist Bob VandenBoom, diversity expert and consultant Seema Pothini and active community volunteer Sandra Sweep.
VandenBoom is an appointed board member seeking election to a two-year term. Sweep is an incumbent seeking re-election to a four-year term.
Not on the list were board Chair Ron Hill and Board Member DeeDee Currier, both seeking re-election to four-year terms.
“We are very excited to support these four individuals,” said Bob Nystrom, president of the BEA president, which represents 740 educators in the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage district. “Together they exhibit diverse and necessary talents, including expertise in finance, education and communication. Over the last few years we have seen controversy resulting from, among other things, difficulty in communication. We are confident these four individuals will put the district on the right track.”
The district has “weathered some difficult times. These four candidates are best suited to lead our district for the next several years,” Nystrom said in a news release.
Candidates screened with the BEA at the end of September. The BEA’s executive board approved the endorsements on October 3.
