Hamilton, Klingensmith running for Newton school board

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It’s election time in Newton. Voters will go to the polls to elect two individuals to the Newton Community School District Board of Education. The two seats are up for grabs after long-time board members Cathi Fouts and Jerry Sawin decided not to seek re-election. Two Newton men — Darrin Hamilton and Joe Klingensmith — are running for two open seats on the board of education. To help introduce the voters to the men vying for the open board seats the Newton Daily News provided both Hamilton and Klingensmith. The following are their answers:

Share family and biographical information: DH: Mary is my wife. We have been married for 14 years. We have no children in the school district as we have not yet been blessed with children. I've lived in Iowa all my life, moving to the Newton Community School District in November 1998 when we bought a house near Berg, where we still live today. I attended the University of Iowa receiving my undergraduate degree in political science with a minor in economics in 1987 and Drake Law School receiving my law degree in 1990. JK: My name is actually Jodie, but I go by Joe. My wife, Bev and I have been married and living in Newton for 11 years. We have two children. Our oldest son, Wade is a first grader at Woodrow Wilson School and our youngest son, Reed goes to Share Pre-school. Bev grew up in Knoxville and I grew up in Monroe, graduating from PCM. She makes the daily commute to downtown Des Moines, working at Wells Fargo Financial. We belong to the First United Methodist Church.

Where do you work? DH: I am employed by the City of Newton as the City Attorney. I began working for the City of Newton in October 1998. JK: Unfortunately, after nine years of factory work, I became a victim of Maytag's demise. In the past three years, I have earned my Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Administration while simultaneously filling the role of ‘stay at home dad’. Since my graduation, I have been tediously searching for quality employment in my field of expertise. Although the financial strains of not having a dual family income have been a major challenge, it has afforded me the opportunity to spend quality time with our boys in their formative years and to do some volunteer work along the way. I have become actively involved in the Woodrow Wilson PTA, currently serving as the vice president.

What do you feel is the greatest challenge the district currently faces? DH: Maintaining our educational programs during these economically challenging times. JK: Since I’m not an experienced board member, I have limited knowledge about this. I do know, however there are many challenges facing public education today. Our state and federal government have passed along increasingly more demanding educational requirements on the curriculum, the instruction, the assessments, the teachers and administrators. While meeting those requirements, we still need to ensure a safe, caring, and equitable atmosphere where all our Newton students learn to succeed in school and in life.

What do you feel are the district’s strongest qualities/assets? DH: Our district employees and our students. JK: ... with the little over a year’s involvement as a parent of a Newton school age child, I’d have to say the teachers are the strongest assets in this district! Everyone I have met has been extremely knowledgeable, professional and welcoming. What are you hoping to see change in the district during your four-year term on the school board? DH: I would like to see a growing student enrollment and higher graduation rates. JK: I do not have an agenda for any particular change. Why have you decided to seek a seat on the Newton Community School District Board of Education? DH: I read in the Newton Daily News on two separate occasions that no one was running for the two vacancies on the school board. Couple that with my strong belief in serving one's community, I decided to run for the school board. JK: I am greatly interested in my children’s education as well as the education of all our community's youth. School staff and community members need to work together to promote lifelong learning and social responsibility. I view this position as my opportunity to demonstrate that to my children as well as to my community.

Complete results from Newton and area school district board of education elections will be published in Wednesday’s edition of the Newton Daily News. ——— Jessica Lowe can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 426 or via e-mail at jlowe@newtondailynews.com.