As candidate filing week approaches, Chehalis School Board member J. Vander Stoep announced on Thursday he will be seeking a second term on the board in the at-large position he currently holds, according to an email to The Chronicle.
“When COVID hit and schools were closed across the country in March 2020, our board took the lead in getting Chehalis students back into live classes starting in October,” Vander Stoep said in the email. “Chehalis was the largest school district in Western Washington with students in classrooms for almost six months when other districts began to bring students back.”
He added during his time on the board, a no cellphone use rule in classrooms has been implemented and policy has been set ensuring consistent building maintenance.
“If you don’t pay to fix your leak this year, you’ll pay much more next year. So, our policy requires that the basic maintenance work be done every year. In the end, this saves taxpayer money and extends the life of our facilities to the benefit of our students and staff,” said Vander Stoep, a Chehalis-based attorney who is also a member of the Chehalis Basin Board, a former state lawmaker and the former chief of staff for congressman Slade Gorton.
As for why he serves on the board, Vander Stoep said a quality school district is important for the futures of students and the community itself.
“That’s why I ran in the first place and why I ask citizens here to give me a second term on the board,” Vander Stoep added.
In addition to Vander Stoep, Chehalis resident Tim LeDuc also announced his candidacy for the Chehalis School Board in an email to The Chronicle. He's running for the District 1 position.
LeDuc has three children who are all W.F. West High School graduates and has worked at the TransAlta Mine for 21 years as an engineer, land manager and environmental compliance supervisor.
“My commitment is simple. I will listen and serve. I will listen to parents, staff and members of the general public,” LeDuc said in the email. “After listening I will make decisions based on what I believe is in the best interests of the students and the school district, period.”
He served as a longtime scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 373 in Chehalis and has been a committee chairman for the local chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and a local chapter member of Ducks Unlimited. LeDuc has also received an endorsement from outgoing Chehalis School Board member Larry Peterson.
“Tim will be an excellent addition to the board. He will bring a fresh perspective, solid business experience and a proven record of supporting young people in our community,” Peterson said.
Candidate filing week is from May 15 to May 19. Those wishing to run for government positions in the next election can do so in a variety of ways.
In Lewis County, candidates should file with the Lewis County Auditor’s Office, either online, in person or by mail.
Candidates seeking to file online in Lewis County can do so by going to https://elections.lewiscountywa.gov and selecting “Online Candidate Filing.” Those filing online must pay their filing fee online with a credit card.
Those wishing to file in person can do so at the Lewis County Auditor’s Office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during filing week. Candidates will be required to file using the online filing system at a customer kiosk. Assistance will be provided as needed.
For those filing by mail, the Lewis County Elections mailing address is P.O. Box 29, 351 NW North St., Chehalis, WA 98532. Mailed candidate declarations must be received by 4:30 p.m. on May 19.
To see which offices are open for candidate filing, current incumbents and filing fees, go to https://elections.lewiscountywa.gov/candidate-filing-information/ and select “Offices Open for Election.”
