The two longest-serving members of the North East Independent School District board of trustees will not seek reelection to the board after tenures marred by political infighting and disagreement on a range of issues.
Sandra Hughey, who was first elected in 2000 and represents District 1, did not file to run for office by the February 16 filing deadline. Hughey was not immediately available for comment Friday.
Shannon Grona, who serves as board president and represents District 5, has coalesced with a moderate faction board members in recent years, often clashing with more conservative trustees.
Those clashes became entrenched following the death of Trustee Terri Williams in August, sparking a months-long debate over how to fill the vacancy that repeatedly ended in deadlock.
Trustees ultimately agreed to send the decision to the voters in a May special election.
According to filing paperwork, Lisa Thompson, a substitute and PTA president and Michael Leon Gurwitz, who is retired, are both vying for Hughey’s District 1 seat.
Vying for Grona’s District 5 seat are:
- Christopher Andrew Evans, who works in “Parts and Services”
- Richard John Rasmussen, a pilot
- Melinda Dianne Cox, who listed her occupation as “at home”
District 4 trustee David Beyer is running for reelection against John Kayle Hoyle, III, who is self-employed, and District 6 Trustee Steve Hilliard is running for reelection against Terri Jean Chidgey, a retired educator.
In an emailed statement, Grona said she initially talked with her family about not running again in 2020 after her 2016 reelection.
“However, in 2019 we hired [Sean] Maika as the superintendent and I decided to run in order to help the transition to a new superintendent,” she said. “This decision to not run for reelection was made a long time ago.”
Grona said that Williams’ passing caused her to rethink her decision, but that she was keeping a promise to her family.
“I made a promise to my husband and I’m going to honor that by not seeking re-election,” she said. “I have made this volunteer position my job and have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the board and the opportunities that I have had to work with staff, children, parents and our community and to advocate for public education.”
