Times Staff
LAKEWOOD – Three candidates are running for Lakewood School District board of directors: Karl Fitterer, Jahna Smith and Amy Williams.
The top two vote-getters in the Aug. 4 primary will move on to the general election in November.
Fitterer is a former Arlington City Council member who is a deputy fire marshal, having been a paramedic-firefighter for 20 years. He is a former business leader and Eagle Scout, it says in the voter’s pamphlet.
He says one of his strengths is as a mediator.
“I have always prided myself in the ability to listen to others and work together as a team to achieve our common goals,” he says in the pamphlet.
He says he believes in education, and that is needs to be fiscally responsible to constituents.
Smith says she has 26 years of experience in health care, including contract negotiations and project management.
“I believe I can offer new ideas, fresh perspectives and creative solutions to the board and our school district,” she says in the pamphlet.
She said she would work with the community and be a voice for and to them and the school district. She said the new high school will provide new learning opportunities and a chance to make the district better than ever. She said schools need to be a focal point, even with all of the growth. New administration and growth will take the school district into the future. The community values education and supports its schools, she said, adding she raised two children in the district.
Williams attended Lakewood schools and her children are going to them now. She says she knows the district’s strengths because she’s been involved as a student, parent and volunteer. She said Lakewood has a unique community because of its dedicated educators and parents who work together.
She said rapid growth, building expansion, Common Core standards, and new state testing create new challenges. She called for helping at-risk students but also asking for robust academic and extracurricular programs. She also called for retaining excellent employees.
“I will use my experience and common sense to work collaboratively with the Lakewood community to celebrate our strengths and focus on areas of improvement,” she says in the pamphlet.
