3 Newcomers on Sept. 10 Urbandale School Board Ballot

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The upcoming Sept. 10 Urbandale school board election will feature three newcomers – Aaron Applegate, Christopher Gunnare and Graham Giles – running unopposed for three seats.

Incumbents Ryan Judas, Jeffrey Farrell and Shawn St. John are not seeking re-election, the De Moines Register reported.

Judas, who served one term, including a year as president, said his decision “really just comes down to wanting to spend more time with my family,” the newspaper said.

First elected in 2006, Farrell said he’s making good on a campaign promise that he wouldn’t serve more than two terms. He reportedly said that board service requires a strong commitment of time and “after a while it becomes harder to continue to put that type of effort and energy into it.”

The newspaper said St. John decided shortly after his 2008 election that he wouldn’t seek another term, but didn’t elaborate on the reasons.

Both Judas and Farrell counted as significant progress during their terms the Urbandale school district’s work on its strategic plan. Judas also said that the school district not only absorbed then-Gov. Chet Culver’s 10 percent across-the-board budget cut, but ensured the district’s financial health while expanding curriculum and programming.