A coach at Gentry Middle School was among the first candidates to file Tuesday for the two open seats on the Columbia Board of Education.
Brian Jones, 37, manager of diversity and inclusion at Shelter Insurance and seventh-grade girls basketball coach at Gentry, said he’s running because he wants to contribute more to the district where his daughters are enrolled at Rock Bridge Elementary School.
“I’m not running out of any grievance,” Jones said. “This is such an important role and the district plays such an important role in the community, I just want to build on the things that have been done and make a positive impact long-term.”
Filing opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday and will continue through Jan. 15. Two long-time board incumbents, Jim Whitt and President Jan Mees, said last week that they will not seek new three-year terms on the board.
One other candidate, Ardella Streaty-Wilhoit, 65, also filed Tuesday. She could not be reached for comment on her decision to run.
Jones said he has been thinking about getting into politics in recent years and the school board is a good place to start.
“Between coaching and being a partner in MAC scholars, I’ve been working with some great students, some great teachers and some great administrators,” he said. “They have been really inspiring.”
Only one other candidate, Tyler Lero, has expressed interest in the race. Lero has an active campaign committee but said last week that he is not yet sure about running. Lero was fifth in a five-way race in April.
Candidate filing is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. District offices will not be open for filing during the week of Christmas or on Jan. 1.
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