GUERNSEY – Eight school board and three town council candidates took to the spotlight and answered questions last week in a candidate forum hosted by Guernsey-Sunrise Education Association.
GSEA president Karen Womback welcomed the crowd, thanked the VFW Post 4471 for providing the building, Tri-City Parks and Rec for sound equipment, and high school student groups (Skills USA, FBLA, and Mrs. Waring’s culinary and baking class) for assisting in putting on the event.
The school board members were given six questions in advance to prepare one-minute answers which were presented, followed by questions submitted by the community which were answered on-the-spot.

Questions included the following: How are you involved in the community? What qualities do you possess to make you an effective school board member? An individual school board member has no authority – only the board as a whole can make decisions, so what skills or traits will help you contribute to the board as whole? What should our district do about the trend of declining enrollment? What should the school district do to improve safety of school and staff? How can our district best ensure our students are prepared for life? If elected, are you willing to dedicate time to attend trainings, workshops, policy reviews, etc.? What steps would you take to ensure unity on the school board when there are controversies on the school board, including issues portrayed on social media? What would you do if parents requested their students use opposite gender bathrooms, locker rooms and showers?
As a courtesy to the community, the GSEA provided the opportunity for town council members to speak at the forum. Wombaker emphasized, the GSEA had nothing to do with the questions.
“We only have time for five questions and it’s literally luck of the draw. They get a question pulled out of the bucket, which they will answer with no prep time,” she said.
Jeremiah Fields, Sue Fronapfel, and Dale Harris answered the following questions: If you have to abstain from town votes, can you still be effective as a council member? If elected, will you be a team player? How will you be able to vote with issues dealing directly with friends or family employed by the town, and would you abstain from the votes? Do you think it is ethical posting about town matters, etc. on social media to friends or family. Elected official training is required by the state – will you dedicate the time for the trainings, and if you’re a current council member have you taken them? If not, why? How do we address derelict properties in the town?
There were varied answers to all questions. For more information on these or other candidates who will be on the election ballot across the county, see the 2024 General Election Guide in next week’s issue of the Gazette.