Lawton incumbents file during first day of school board filings

Incumbents for Lawton Public Schools and Great Plains Technology Center boards of education were among the candidates who filed declarations Monday.

Those seeking school board meets have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to file their declarations of candidacy for school boards across the state, including those in Comanche County. Because some school districts cross county lines, elections may affect more than one county.

In Lawton, both Lawton Public Schools’ Office 5 Incumbent Zeldon Rice and Great Plains Technology Center’s Zone 1 Incumbent Homer Ryan filed their intents to seek re-election. It was incorrectly reported in The Sunday Constitution that Great Plains Technology Center’s Zone 5 was the one up for election.

Also filing declarations Monday were: Cache Public Schools Office 5: Scott Messner; Chattanooga Public Schools Office 5: Jeremy Kyle Kinder; Elgin Public Schools Office 5: Shane Burk; Fletcher Public Schools Office 5: Ryan Simmons; Geronimo Public Schools Office 5: Andy Moon; and Sterling Public Schools Office 5: Chris Hale, John Hergenrether.

There is no filing fee to file for school board seats, but a candidate must have lived in the district he/she is seeking to represent and have been a registered voter within the geographic boundaries of the district for at least six months prior to the first day of the filing period. In addition, the candidate must have a high school diploma or certificate of high school equivalency.

Candidates also may not have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving embezzlement or any felony, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, for at least 15 years following completion of their sentence.