Want to meet your USD 497 School Board candidates for the 2025 election? Plan to attend the Sunday, Sept. 7 School Board Candidate Forum, from 3:00-4:30pm at Flory Hall, West, Douglas County Fairgrounds. All candidates plan to participate and include current board members running for re-election Bob Byers, Kelly Jones and Shannon Kimball; as well as candidates seeking to be on the board, ChrisTopher Niles Enneking, Matt Lancaster, Pam Shaw and Molly Starr. Questions for the candidates will be posed by moderator, Tai Edwards, local Lawrence resident, historian and educator. This event is hosted by the Lawrence/Douglas County Chapter of Women for Kansas, the League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas County and NAACP, Lawrence Kansas Branch. Each board member serves a four-year term without salary. The Lawrence Board of Education's primary duties include setting educational policy, approving the district's budget, and hiring and evaluating the Superintendent of Schools. All 7 candidates will be on the ballot for 3 open seats for the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The deadline to register to vote or update your voter registration is Oct. 14. Advance, in-person voting begins on Oct. 15. The last day to apply for an advance voting mail ballot is Oct. 28. Advance in-person voting ends at noon on Monday, Nov. 3. The general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4 will feature both the school board and city commission candidates. Call the Douglas County Elections Office (785-832-5167) or go online to dgcoks.gov/county-clerk/voting-and-elections or VOTE411.org for more election information. This is a non-partisan, civic event and civil conduct is expected. Join us for this chance to learn more about our school board candidates. Our democracy depends on participation and an informed public. Questions? Call Kelly Wall, Chapter Leader of Lawrence/Douglas County Women for Kansas at 620-222-1198 or email: w4klawrence.douglas@gmail.com, sczarnecki@lawrenceleague.com or lawrenceksnaacp@gmail.com.