Incumbent trails watchdog in tight Everett School Board race

EVERETT — In a tight race for a spot on the Everett School Board, incumbent Karen Madsen is trailing district watchdog Jessica Olson by less than 200 votes. It appears both will advance to the general election on Nov. 3.

In the competition for another Everett School Board seat, Pastor Jeff Russell is leading, with retired Navy captain Pam LeSesne in second place.

The top two vote-getters in each race advance to the general election.

Controversy involving school leaders motivated several people to run for the six-year school board seats.

Everett School District leaders have come under fire for secretly recording a teacher in her classroom, racking up more than $200,000 in attorney fees related to legal battles over student newspapers, and hiring a new superintendent without giving the community a chance to comment on the finalists.

Olson has criticized school leaders for making decisions under “a cloak of secrecy” and avoiding questions from taxpayers.

“I thought my message might resonate well with people who have had it up to here with what’s been going on in the district,” the homemaker said.

She believed in her message but didn’t expect to get so many votes in her first run for public office.

“I’m shocked,” she said. “I’m really pretty stunned. I really thought I’d be finishing third.”

She planned to celebrate by taking her kids for a milkshake at McDonald’s.

She has 41 percent of the vote, to Madsen’s 40 percent in the race for position 4 on the school board.

Retired teacher Annie Lyman is in last place with 16 percent.

Madsen is president of the Washington School District Directors’ Association and has served on the Everett School Board for 12 years. She is an educational consultant who taught high school science for 10 years.

Madsen has touted improvements made during her time on the board — including an increase in the number of students taking challenging courses and rising graduation rates.

She did not immediately return calls Tuesday night.

In the race for Position 3, Russell has a comfortable lead with 4,727 votes — 47 percent. LeSesne has 3,778 votes — 38 percent, and Bennie Walthall, a retired urban planner and architectural designer, is in last place with 1,150 votes — 12 percent.

Russell has served on the Everett Public Schools Foundation and the district’s Career Technical Education Advisory Committee. He believes the community’s familiarity with him may have helped set him apart from his competitors. He also believed his message resonated with voters.

He wants schools to pay more attention to students interested in vocational education, and he believes the school board should operate more openly.

“Given some of the recent well-publicized missteps in the school district, I think people are eager to hear a message that the school board will be transparent and collaborative in their decision-making,” he said.

LeSesne has tutored students and believes high school students should have an adult mentor in addition to their parents. LeSesne, who has a mechanical engineering master’s degree, also supports a rigorous math and science curriculum.

She did not immediately return calls Tuesday night.

Everett is one of the state’s largest districts with 26 schools, more than 18,000 students and a $188 million annual operations budget. The position pays $50 a meeting, up to $4,800 a year.

Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292, kmanry@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

District 2 candidates differ in public safety approach

Incumbent Paula Rhyne is facing challenger Ryan Crowther. The third candidate, Jonathan Shapiro, is no longer seeking the seat.

From left to right, Edmonds City Council Position 3 candidates Joseph Ademofe, Alex Newman and Erika Barnett.
Amid budget crisis, Edmonds City Council candidates talk revenue, affordability

Three newcomers are facing off for Position 3 on the council, currently held by council President Neil Tibbott.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Everett
Everett approves new fines for non-emergency lifts

The fire department will only issue fines for non-emergency lift assists at licensed care facilities, not for individuals at home calling 911.

Guns for sale at Caso’s Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/New Jersey Monitor)
After suing, WA gets carveout from Trump administration plan to return gun conversion devices

The Trump administration has agreed to not distribute devices that turn semi-automatic… Continue reading

The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility about 16 miles east of Ellensburg in central Washington is part of Puget Sound Energy’s clean energy portfolio. (Courtesy of Puget Sound Energy)
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Washington households could see electricity costs increase $115 per year by 2029; 21,800 workers could lose their jobs by 2030, analysts say.

Everett mayor candidates focus on affordability, city budget in costly race

As incumbent Cassie Franklin seeks a third term in office, three candidates are looking to unseat her.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.