Four Newcomers To Join Urbandale School Board, President Graham Giles Ousted

Four newcomers will be welcomed to the Urbandale School Board next week after voters selected all rookies on the ballot and ousted incumbent Graham Giles, who is the current board president. The outcome leaves three veterans on the seven-member board. The school board meets at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at Urbandale City Hall, 3600 86th St.

Elected to four-year terms were Mark Smith with 285 votes, Stacy Andersen with 255 and Sarah Schmitz with 221, according to preliminary vote totals reported by the Polk County Election Office. Giles had 214 votes and candidate Tessa Jones received 146.

Judy Downs, the lone candidate for a two-year board seat, received 376 votes.

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Incumbent Christopher Gunnare, who joined the board in 2013, did not seek re-election. Also leaving are Adam Obrecht and Mark Wierson, who were appointed to fill terms that expired this month.

After his loss, Giles said via Twitter: “Grateful to have served on the @UrbandaleSchool Board. I'm sure the new appointees will serve the district well.”