By Brandi Makuski

Officials from Bliss Educational Services Center have announced the deadline to file candidacy paperwork for the spring election of the Stevens Point School Board has been extended to 5 PM on Friday.

The original deadline was Tuesday at 5 PM, according to Karlyn Krautkramer, administrative assistant of the district’s business affairs office. But that deadline was contingent on all four school board incumbents filing paperwork in a timely fashion.

School Board Member Kim Shirek. (City Times photo)

Two of those incumbents, Jeff Ebel and Angel Faxon, filed their candidacy paperwork on time. Two others, Kim Shirek and Lisa Totten, failed to file paperwork indicating whether they would or would not seek reelection. That move triggered an extension of 72 hours.

“Kim [Shirek] and Lisa [Totten] did not file non-candidacy papers, so it’s kicked us into a Friday deadline,” said Sarah O’Donnell, communications director for the district. “So all of the potential applicants now have until 5 PM on Friday.”

Shirek and Totten are no longer eligible for placement on the spring ballot, O’Donnell said, and therefore will end their terms in April.

State law requires the entension if even on incumbent fails to file non-candidacy paperwork.

Five candidates have announced their campaigns for the spring election. Along with incumbents Ebel and Faxon, former Board Secretary Amy Dailey and Portage Co. Chief Deputy Dan Kontos have announced they are running for the four empty seats on the board.

Lisa Totten. (City Times photo)

A fifth candidate, UWSP Professor Rory Suomi, also filed his campaign paperwork this week.

The top three vote-getters in the April election will serve three-year terms on the board. The individual with the fourth-highest number of votes will serve a one year, a partial term created by a past resignation.