Speed sees new position as more than just a seat on school board

Newest member was only person on ballot

ONALASKA, Wis. — It’s a seat on a school board. But Jake Speed sees his new gig as a whole lot more.  

Speed was part of one of the more unusual local school board races in recent memory.  

His was the only name on the Onalaska school board ballot while two incumbents – including the school board president – were forced to run as write-in candidates due to mistakes on nomination papers.  

Speed, a frequent critic of the Onalaska school district, understands he’ll be mostly alone on certain issues on the board.

Kind of like the play, 12 Angry Men, says Speed.

“One guy, on a jury, just by asking questions and getting those answers, that the attorneys didn’t ask in the trial,” Speed explained. “They were all able to come to a conclusion of truth based on evidence extracted from asking good questions.”

Speed says one of his top priorities as a school board member is to get more public engagement in schools by allowing more input during school board meetings, regardless of the topic. He says that’s the only way voters will become more engaged in the school district.  

“I’m there to represent them, not the administration,” Speed said. “I think that was the leading factor in people’s voting for me, is they realized, I was there to represent them.”

He was also the only person on the ballot. The rest of the board won’t be filled until after the canvasses are done, and there might possibly be a recount.

Speed won about 40 percent of the vote to guarantee his election, which apparently means one incumbent will lose a seat.

Board members, Ann Garrity – the board president – and Tim Smaby, both had to run as write-ins, after Speed pointed out problems with their nominating papers.

An unofficial vote count showed Garrity two votes ahead of Smaby.