I am without party, for almost the last two years, but I still get to vote in the June 26 primary election — at least on races for State School Board District 9 and Alpine School Board District 3. So do you, if you’re registered.

Today, May 9, is even more fun for me. I’ll be moderating a debate featuring state and local school board candidates. Each race gets about half an hour of questions, which isn’t a lot, but 30 minutes is infinitely longer than zero, if you do the math.

Here are more details about tonight’s event, the candidates, and the election itself.

May 9 School Board Candidate Debate

Location: American Fork Junior High Library

Sponsor: American Fork Council PTA

Approximate Schedule:

  • 6:00 pm: meet and greet the candidates (both races), plus some introductory formalities, so the candidate Q&A can begin on the half-hour
  • 6:30 pm: local school board candidate debate (Alpine School District, District 3)
  • 7:00 pm: state school board candidate debate (District 9)
  • 7:30 pm: mingle with the candidates (both races)

Some questions are already prepared, and a few were sent in advance to the candidates. The public is invited to submit questions in writing until 6:30 p.m. Due to limited time with each set of candidates during the formal part of the evening, any given question may be asked as written; combined with other similar questions; condensed or otherwise modified by the moderator for clarity, brevity, or other considerations; or not asked at all. The post-debate mingling is a good chance to follow up on what you heard, ask the questions that didn’t get asked, and get a sense of how individual candidates connect with voters.

I’m looking forward to meeting the candidates I don’t already know, and hearing what they all have to say. This is not just an exercise; I’ll be voting too, and I don’t yet know for whom.

Here is audio of the May 9 debate.

Alpine School Board Candidates (District 3)

(In alphabetical order by surname. Linked to be updated when available.)

Sarah Beeson

‘Afa K. Palu

Kara Sherman

Utah State School Board Candidates (District 9)

(In alphabetical order by surname. Linked to be updated when available.)

Kami Alvarez

Cindy Davis

Joylin Lincoln

Avalie Muhlestein

Key Dates in the 2018 Primary Election

May 29: last day to register to vote by mail

May 30: last day to change party afffiliation. (But if you’re unaffiliated, you can affiliate in person at a polling location)

June 5: ballots mailed by county (approx.)

June 12-22: in-person early voting

June 19: last day to register to vote online or in person

Monday, June 25: mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than today

Tuesday, June 26: Primary Election Day (can still vote in person)

Housekeeping

Candidates are welcome to contact me (David Rodeback) via e-mail to update or add web and social media links, provide a good candidate photo, etc.

Thanks to all the candidates — for running. It’s not a small thing.