Johnson County Clerk Trena McLaughlin, Deputy Clerk Brandi Borchert and First Deputy Amy Briggs help candidates file their paperwork to run for office in January 2022 at Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin. Daily Journal file photo
Three people have filed for nonpartisan seats on Johnson County school boards so far, with more expected over the next few weeks.
Filing officially opened Tuesday for residents interested in serving on any of the school boards for the county’s six public school districts. Fourteen seats are up for election this fall.
As of 4 p.m. Friday, two incumbents and one previous school board candidate have filed. The filing period is open until noon on June 20.
Incumbent Kristi Ott filed for reelection for her city of Franklin seat on the Franklin Community School Board. She has served on the board since 2013.
For the Greenwood Community School Board, incumbent Chris Zaborowsky has filed for reelection for the District 3 seat. Peggy Daeger, who previously ran for an at-large seat in 2022 but was not elected, has filed for a District 1 seat. The District 1 seat is currently held by Deanna Burton.
Excluding Ott and Zaborowsky, no other incumbents have filed for reelection so far.
Franklin’s school board has three seats up for election — two city of Franklin seats and one Franklin township seat. Incumbents who have not yet filed are Bryan Wertz, representing the city seat, and Andrew Lamm, representing the township seat.
For Center Grove, incumbents Amy Counts and Rob Daniels have not yet filed for reelection to their at-large seats. There are two at-large seats up for election.
For Clark-Pleasant, incumbents David Thompson — representing Pleasant Township — and Butch Zike — an at-large seat holder — haven’t filed yet. Edinburgh schools has two at-large seats up for election this year, with Cathy Hamm and Curtis Rooks having not yet filed for reelection.
For Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson United, more commonly referred to as Indian Creek, there are two at-large seats and the Nineveh Township seat up for election. While all school district residents vote for the at-large slots, only Nineveh Township residents vote for their representative on the school board, according to Johnson County Voter Registration.
At-large incumbents Ed Harvey and Greg Waltz haven’t filed for reelection, nor has Nineveh Township incumbent Thomas Burgett.
To run for school board, candidates must live in a township that is on the ballot, or if running for an at-large seat, live within the boundaries of the school district. Candidates must also collect at least 10 signatures supporting their campaign, the forms for which can be picked up and dropped off at the Johnson County Clerk’s Office in the basement of the courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin.
Forms can also be found on the Indiana Secretary of State’s website at in.gov/sos/elections/candidate-information. Those interested should download the CAN-34 form.
WHO’S FILED SO FAR?
Kristine M. Ott – Franklin Comm. School Board, City of Franklin
Peggy Daeger – Greenwood Comm. School Board, Dist. 1
Christopher (Chris) Zaborowsky – Greenwood Comm. School Board, Dist. 3
Source: Johnson County Voter Registration
