The support of the local Republican Party in the traditionally nonpartisan school board race wasn’t enough for a slate of candidates dubbed “the Republican team.”
The election for three open seats in Colorado Springs School District 11 was the most hotly contested race in El Paso County this election season, and in the end, the trio dubbed the “pro-public education team” came out on top.
In unofficial results Tuesday evening, Sandra Mann led all candidates with 21 percent of the vote, followed by Tam Hasling with 19 percent and John Gudvangen with 18 percent.
Reginald Perry, Carla Albers and Bob Lathen each received about 14 percent of the vote.
Perry, Lathen and Albers were dubbed “the Republican team” in campaign mailings paid for by the local GOP and were seen as supporting school choice.
More than $700,000 was raised in the campaign. Much of it came from well-heeled Democrats and the political arm of the state teachers union, although Perry, Lathen and Albers were not without big contributors as well – notably developer Steve Schuck and Denver millionaire Alex Cranberg.
Controversy isn’t new for District 11, which serves more than 32,000 students. Past board meeting have resulted in standing- room-only crowds gathered to hear plans that have included having prayer replace a moment of silence during board proceedings; support for “two-parent, stable and heterosexual families”; and a plan to have Planned Parenthood kicked out of the district.
Staff writer Annette Espinoza can be reached at 303-820-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com.
