SYRACUSE — When voters go to their polling locations Tuesday, Nov. 8, to vote for Wawasee school board candidates, they will choose from among five candidates seeking the two at-large seats.

In District 1 (Tippecanoe Township), incumbent Mike Wilson is being challenged by Gerald “Gary” Coy. In District 2 (Turkey Creek Township), incumbent Don Bokhart is being challenged by David Rosenberry and Michael Lamle.

James Flecker, director of personnel and legal services for the Wawasee Community School Corp., said there has been some confusion among those voting early concerning the structure of the at-large ballot regarding the three districts.

Flecker provided a copy of a resolution passed by the school board in 1993 establishing the structure still used presently. Beginning with the 1996 election and every four years thereafter, which would include the present 2016 election, the two at-large seats (there are a total of five seats on the school board) are up for election. The two at-large members can be from any of the three residence districts but not more than one can be from the same district.

Flecker said this is to insure no more than two board members can be from the same residence district. The other three board members, not up for reelection until 2018, are Rebecca Linnemeier (Van Buren and part of Jefferson Township), Mary Lou Dixon (Turkey Creek Township) and Rob Fisher (Tippecanoe Township).

Anyone living in the Wawasee school district, regardless of which township they live in, can vote for at-large candidates but not for more than one candidate within the same residence district. For example, this year voters can only choose one candidate from District 1 and one candidate from District 2.

Flecker said, in his opinion, some people believe at-large means any top two candidates with the most votes should get the seat. “However, the resolution states they must be from different districts,” he said.

Any questions can be directed to Flecker by email at [email protected] or by calling (574) 457-3188.