Ronn Farr Voters will consider five candidates for the St. Ignace school board on election day May 4, who are all running to serve four-year terms: Incumbent candidate Ronn Farr, new candidate Mike Emery, and write-in candidates Stacy McNamara, Patti O’Brien, and Chris Marshall. There are three seats to fill. Mr. Farr joined the board eight months ago when Kathy Campbell resigned in September, and current board members David Latva and Ann Massey are not running for reelection. Their terms expire June 30.

Ronn Farr

Incumbent candidate Ronn Farr will be entering his first election. Earning a bachelor's degree in business administration from Lake Superior State University in 1991, he describes himself as a businessman at heart, and looks forward to the challenge of using his skills to help solve some of the school's financial problems.

“I probably look at things a little more in dollars and cents than the average person would,” he said.

Mike Emery After working for Best Western Harbour Pointe Lakefront Hotel in St. Ignace for more than two decades, he said he's used to making challenging financial decisions.

“We're faced with everyday decisions about whether or not we'll remain solvent, and just by being in that position you can obtain a significant amount of knowledge insofar as how to run a business and make it profit,” he said.

In his opinion, the number one issue facing the school board next year will be the challenge of remaining solvent. The district is receiving 13% less revenue for operations from the state than last year.

“We are facing some very tough decisions on how to remain a great school system and do it with $800,000 less than we had this year, “ Mr. Farr said of the projected revenue the school is expected to receive from the state for the 2010- 2011 school year. “I don't care if you're business savvy or not, when you're short $800,000, it has to scare people.”

Patti O’Brien The school millage request on the May 4 ballot, in his view, would be a step in the right direction, as the projected annual savings for the proposed wood chip heating plant would be $80,000. The money could be used to revive academic programs, he said.

“If [the millage] passes, then we can provide a better quality education,” he said. “One component of a strong community is a strong educational system.”

When he's not at work or attending board meetings, Mr. Farr enjoys spending time with his son, Cooper, and daughter, Mackenzie, who both attend school in St. Ignace. He's also an outdoorsman who enjoys traveling, fishing, and bicycling.

Stacy McNamara Mike Emery

As a candidate for the St. Ignace school board, Mike Emery, owner of Mackinac Abstract and Title of St. Ignace, is ready for the challenge of rolling up his sleeves and trying something new.

A self-made entrepreneur, Mr. Emery launched his business, which specializes in title insurance, in 1979 after graduating from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He said he looks forward to using his business acumen as a trustee.

“I will look at [issues] as a business person when it comes finances, that's where I have my expertise,” he said. “Having had two children go through the school system, I'll be looking at other issues as a parent.”

Mr. Emery said his children were involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities, from kindergarten through high school, including sports and band. After witnessing the positive benefit of such programs firsthand, he said he thinks highly of the school district's programs.

Chris Marshall “I think the school system did good by my children,” he said.

He added that he's looking forward to understanding the school's budget limitations and bringing his ideas to the discussion.

“I think it's pretty uniform across the state,” he said of districts' budget deficits. “I don't think it makes us any more or less unique than anybody else. You have to look at the budget and decide what items you can't live without, and what you can.”

Coming from a business manager's perspective, he said the school budget needs to be looked at in terms of what can and cannot be cut, which often amounts to making tough decisions.

“The logic of the school board is that there are going to be a list of items that you can't cut - those things can't be controlled,” he said. “Invariably, one of your costs is labor, and sometimes you have to make decisions you don't want to make. I had to do that with my own business; at one time I had eight people working for me, and now I'm down to two.”

Mr. Emery said he raised his family in St. Ignace and plans to stay.

“I'm here because I didn't want to live in the city. I liked the area, so I raised my family here,” he said.

Patti O'Brien

Patti O'Brien said, with her career experience as a nurse and office manager, she would bring a unique perspective to the St. Ignace school board. She is running as a write-in candidate May 4.

After graduation from Delta University of Saginaw in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, Ms. O'Brien worked as a nurse for numerous hospitals, including a position as a nurse manager for the dialysis unit at Northern Michigan Hospital of Alpena.

“I have a strong background in office management and child psychology,” she said. “I would be able to look at all of the facts and make appropriate decisions for the [good] of the community.”

Given that school districts in the state are facing economic challenges, she pointed out that it's vital for everyone to work together.

“One of the best things is to finetune everything as a group and see as a group, to assess it all so that you know areas that can be cut without harming children's education.”

While she hasn't delved into many of the issues facing the school district yet, Ms. O'Brien said that she's a realist who won't be afraid to dig up all of the facts to make informed decisions. She's also an advocate for “progress and change, which is the one constant course that we can count on,” she said.

“We have to be able to integrate all of the changes that are made and to do it gracefully and work together with unity.”

A grandmother, Ms. O'Brien is rearing three of her grandsons, Dakota, Dallas, and Dalton. During her leisure time, she enjoys walking downtown and enjoying the spring and summer weather.

Stacy McNamara

As a dental hygienist working for Dr. Mark Marcer's office in St. Ignace for 13 years, Stacy McNamara said she's “already plugged into the community,” as she has met a good portion of the city's residents at work. Representing the people as a member of the St. Ignace school board, then, feels natural, she said. She's running as a write-in candidate May 4.

“I'm approachable, a familiar face, and I'm always willing to listen. I have coached and officiated volleyball and want to get more involved with the community,” she said of her decision to run for office.

As well as studying business at Northern Michigan University, Ms. McNamara acquired an associate's degree in dental hygiene from Ferris State University. She said that her background in dentistry has given her a penchant for problemsolving.

“I'm used to listening to problems and trying to find solutions,” she said, adding that she would have an open mind as a board member and is looking forward to learning more about the school district's challenges. "I'm approachable, a familiar face, and always willing to listen. I have coached and officiated volleyball and want to get more involved with the community." She said of her decision to run for office.

“They're in the same seat as a lot of schools,” she said of the district, “and the budget money is a big concern.”

She enjoys spending time with daughter, Madeline, a second grade student at St. Ignace Elementary School.

“We like to stay active,” she said, “and we enjoy traveling anywhere together.”

Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall, employee for the Michigan Department of Corrections, said he became inspired to run for the school board after learning about the school's budget problems. With three sons attending the St. Ignace schools - - Reid, Drew, and Landon - - he has a strong personal interest in making an impact on the school board.

When considering the school's budget deficit, he said his approach as a board member would be to “exhaust all avenues” before voting to cut staff or academic programs.

“In some instances those cuts are necessary,” said Mr. Marshall, who studied criminal justice at Mount Senario College in Lady Smith, Wisconsin, before moving home to St. Ignace. “But a lot of those programs that we have are what shape those students for life after school.”

Describing himself as a “laid back” person with a knack for understanding people, Mr. Marshall said that his career in law enforcement has taught him how relate well with others on a day-to-day basis. He has been a member of the St. Ignace school improvement committee now for two years.

“You never know the mindset of who you're dealing with,” he said, “so you have to stay focused and stay strong.”

Most people around town know Mr. Marshall from his coaching role in junior varsity football, varsity wrestling, and summer baseball leagues. He also enjoys hunting and fishing during his free time.