By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

As was previously announced, twelve candidates filed to run for one of the three open seats on the school board for the Whitewater Unified School District. On January 16 Nathan Vander Pas notified the Banner that, “After careful consideration, I have decided I will be withdrawing my candidacy for the School Board. I look forward to supporting the remaining candidates through this and after the primary.”

Having been certified by the school district as a candidate, however, Nathan Vander Pas will still appear on the primary ballot on February 21. The six candidates with the highest votes will progress to the general election on April 4. What would happen if Vander Pas is one of those six candidates? Riley Willman, elections specialist with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, told the Banner that his name would still appear on the general election ballot, and if Nathan is then one of the three candidates with the highest votes, he would have the choice of being seated or resigning. Should he resign, it would be up to the school board to decide whether to hold a special election or to appoint someone to the vacant seat for an interim term.

As was previously announced on the Banner, the League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area is hosting a school board candidate forum on January 28. In addition, the Banner has given the candidates the opportunity to answer several questions. The responses will be published within the next week.