SEAT A
Bettye Davis
Age: 74
Party registration: Democrat
Occupation(s): Retired; worked for Department of Health and Social Services, 1972-1986
Professional, community and service organizations: Anchorage School Board, 1982-89, 1998-99; state representative, 1990-96; Alaska State Senate, 2000-2012; Zonta Club, Common Ground, Delta Sigma Theta, Athena, NAACP, League of Women Voters, Church Women United
Spouse: deceased
Children: 51 and 53
Website, blog, Twitter handle, Facebook page: Yes
Why running: Education is my passion having spent my political life working to improve the lives of children.
Don Smith
Age: 73
Party registration: Political party not a requirement. I am a registered Republican.
Occupation: Retired. RCA Alaska, 1962-1963; IBM, 1963-1968; owned business, 1968-2002; legislative assistant, 2002-2003; state Department of Transportation, 2003-2005
Professional, Community and Service Organizations: Greater Anchorage Borough Assembly, 1965; Alaska State House, 1966-1968; Anchorage Charter Commission, 1972?; Anchorage Municipal Assembly, 1975-1985; Anchorage School Board, 2010-present; Jaycees, Anchorage Lions Club, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
Spouse: Katherine
Children: 53, 51, 50, 43, plus 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren
Facebook: on Facebook
Why running: To continue to make a difference in Anchorage. My family has been in Anchorage since 1915. I am a third-generation Anchorage resident. My mother was the eighth child born in Anchorage (1916).
SEAT B
Stephanie Cornwell-George
Age: 31
Party registration: not affiliated
Occupation(s): Special education program director, Special Education Service Agency; Yukon-Koyukuk Schools, 2004-2005; St. Mary's School District, 2005-2007; Anchorage School District, 2008-2012
Professional, community and service organizations: Vice president of union in St. Mary's.
Spouse: Randall George, construction management student at UAA.
Children: 3, 6
Why running: To utilize my knowledge, experiences, and perspectives to bring a well rounded voice to the School Board.
Eric Croft
Age: 48
Party registration: Democrat
Occupation(s): Attorney, The Croft Law Office, present; owner and founder, Alaska Bar Review, 1996-2006; prosecutor, Municipality of Anchorage, 1997-2007
Professional, community and service organizations: Alaska House of Representatives, 1997-2007; STAR Board, 2001-09; Blood Bank Board, 2011-present
Spouse: Joanna, architect
Children: 14, 12
Website, blog, Twitter handle, Facebook page: ericcroft.com
Why running: I believe in the importance of public education and I have seen our schools and teachers do remarkable things for our children, but know we can do better.
David Nees
Age: 57
Party registration: Republican, although there is not a Democratic or Republican way to teach reading, writing and math
Occupation(s): Math teacher, 1983-2011; current employer, DGS; coach (cross-country running, cross-country skiing, track) 1983-2011 (75 seasons)
Professional, community and service organizations: Boy Scouts
Spouse: Christine, teacher
Children: 23 and 25
Website: nees4schoolboard2013.weebly.com
Twitter: @nees4schoolboard
Facebook: nees 4 school board
Email: neesforschoolboard@gmail.com
Why running: I feel I can help improve schools in Anchorage because of my teaching experience and knowledge. The district is adrift and needs to be brought back to its only mission, educating all of Anchorage's students. It is currently failing 30 percent of its students (failure to graduate them)
Anchorage
Alaska Dispatch Publishing