Jacobs, Norton, Potter in lead

Shoreline School Board candidates Mike Jacobs, Maren Norton and Richard Potter were in the lead as preliminary election results rolled in the night of Tuesday, Nov. 6.

With about 15 percent of votes counted, Norton had the most dramatic lead, with 63 percent of votes, compared to 36 percent for incumbent Dan Mann.

Potter had 57 percent to incumbent Jim Leigh’s 41 percent. Jacobs had 55 percent and his challenger Kyle Burleigh had 44 percent.

Jacobs, the incumbent, said Tuesday night that the results were very preliminary.

“We’ll wait and see, but I do want to thank those who voted for me and supported me,” he said.

Jacobs has said that, if elected, he has the experience to help the district stay the course in regaining financial health and that he wants to help add programs and offerings back.

Burleigh, a student at the University of Washington, said Tuesday night that the challengers sent a strong message, especially in his race, where Jacobs has been on the board for six years.

“The message is that it’s time for a change on the school board, not necessarily in personnel, but in how they conduct themselves in the community,” he said.

Norton said she was excited about her lead and that it was the result of time and effort people made “to make a change together.”

“There’s hard work ahead and I welcome the chance to play a role,” she said. “We have our work cut out for us.”

Norton has said she wants to add a different perspective to the board and hopes the district will look further outside the classroom and beyond teacher and support staff salaries as it balances its budget.

She has also said that work needs to be done to rebuild trust between the district and the community.

Mann said Tuesday night he was waiting to see how things would turn out.

“We’ll see how the evening goes on and what the voters have to say,” he said.

Richard Potter, ahead of incumbent Jim Leigh, said Tuesday night that he was excited about the early returns, but that the numbers showed there were voters he had yet to convince.

“I look forward to getting in there and working on the things I promised I’d work on,” he said.

Potter, the parent of a former North City Elementary student, has said that if elected he will work on communication between the district and the community, making sure budget cuts are the furthest from the classroom, and other issues.