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VINCENT -- Warren Local School District has four candidates running for two open seats for their Board of Education on Nov. 7.
The election will fill the open seats left by Debbie West and Sidney Brackenridge's expiring terms. West is running for reelection, while Brackenridge is not.
The candidates vying for the open seats are a mixture of newcomers and veterans. West is running for her sixth term while Adam J. Wynn and Jesse C. Roush are running for the first time. Collin Yost is also running for the first time as a write-in candidate.
West has served on the school board since 2004. She said Warren has always been a great district, but credits consolidating the district to one campus in helping the district make progress.
"We've completed a very large building project that's providing safe, beautiful, high-tech spaces for our students with great athletic facilities, all on one campus," she said.
West said she has a few goals for the district going forward.
"I'd like to make sure we're helping students that may be struggling get all the help and resources they need so they can focus on learning, and enjoying their time in school, and increase support for our teachers and support staff," she said.
Roush works as Executive Director at Southeastern Ohio Port Authority in Marietta and graduated from Warren High School in 2001. He said running for the board is a way for him to give back to the district that raised him.
He said he would like to see parents with kids currently attending the district on the board.
"I believe it's time for the next generation of leaders to step forward and take on the important leadership roles within our communities. As the father of three young children, it's time for a parent to serve on the board again," he said.
Roush said that if he is elected, he will learn from the existing members.
"My goal is to listen more than I speak so that I can learn how our system operates, what we do well, and what we can improve on. I believe we should be prioritizing career exploration and community-connected learning experiences," he said.
Wynn lives in Fleming and works as a salesman for Innovex, an oil and gas company. He graduated from Warren High School in 2001. He said he and his family have conservative values and would bring that mindset to the board.
He has two daughters, one is a Warren graduate and one is currently attending.
Wynn said he has not run for the school board before and decided to run because he wants to see the district continue to grow in a positive direction.
"I want to make sure the district is growing in the right direction and children are being taught the proper things: English, science, and math," he said.
Wynn said he also wanted to run because the current board members have been in the board for several years and he wanted to see new members.
Yost is running as a write-in candidate and is the co-owner of Roseland Coffee Bar in Belpre and Vincent. He graduated from Warren High School in 2010 and said if elected he would be the youngest board member at age 32.
"I am a write-in candidate because the deadline had already passed to be on the ballot," he said.
"Instead of waiting two more years for possible openings, I decided I would go ahead and get my name out in the public more."
When announcing his candidacy through Facebook, Yost said his vision is bringing community members together and investing in local resources such as education.
"I want children to grow here, see the potential in our area for growth, and then invest. We need to grow the idea that it's okay to leave for a bit and come back, but it's also okay to stay here and build your future," he said.