(UPDATED) SLP School Board Race Fills Up

The race is on for four St. Louis Park school board seats that will be on the ballot in November.

With the filing deadline coming and going Tuesday, six people are in, including three incumbents—Nancy Gores, Pam Rykken and board chairwoman Julie Sweitzer. Rolf Peterson is the only incumbent with an expiring term who did not file.

Also running will be challengers , Bill Levine and Matt Stangl. A fourth challenger, William Feller, filed on Tuesday but withdrew Wednesday morning. Candidates can withdraw up until Thursday at 5 p.m.

Levine, who has been a teacher in the Anoka-Hennepin School District the past 35 years, said he wants to bring a teacher's perspective to the board.

"I feel I have a lot to offer," said Levine, who ran unsuccessfully for the board two years ago. "I feel a passion for getting involved."

The father of two daughters—who will be in third and fifth grade at St. Louis Park schools this year—said school funding is his key campaign issue.

The incumbent Rykken also said school funding will be a key issue. Specifically, she said she wants to look at creative ways for the district to make money, such as having grant writers at all the schools and getting sponsored by local businesses.

Rykken, who has been on the board since 2008, said she is driven by one key principle: "I want to make sure we're providing the best education to all the kids. And I want to emphasize all the kids."

She has a son who is entering ninth grade at and a daughter who graduated several years ago. Rykken is also a graduate herself and has lived in St. Louis Park since 1966.

Sweitzer, who has been on the board since 2004, said she is excited to run again.

"I truly believe providing a high quality education for each and every child is the most critical thing we can do for their future," she said in an email.

The board chairwoman has lived in St. Louis Park since 1995, and she had two daughters graduate from the high school. She currently works in the College Readiness Consortium at the University of Minnesota, working on education policy issues.

The St. Louis Park School Board election is Nov. 8.

Candidates Stangl and Gores have not been reached for comment. This article will be updated as we chat with them. Also, check back with St. Louis Park Patch later this fall for more school board election coverage, including in-depth conversations with the candidates.