Dan DeBartolo was the fourth candidate to file for Juneau School Board by deadline Monday afternoon. He joined Kevin Allen, Jason Hart and Steve Whitney in a four-way race to fill two seats being left vacant by members Barbara Thurston and Lisa Worl.
[The race is on: Four in the running to fill two school board seats]
This is DeBartolo’s first foray into running for elected office.
“My wife and I were debating it all week, more because I’m a dad with a kid who is 20-months-old, one who’s 4-years-old and now one who’s just entering first grade. They’re all going to come through the public school system and, first and foremost, I’d like to have a voice in things that will affect my kids, but I actually believe I can bring something to the table,” he said.
DeBartolo, 42, is the director of administrative services for Alaska’s Department of Revenue. Prior to that, he was director of the Permanent Fund Dividend Division.
He said he’s the right candidate during this state budget crisis, which he considers the biggest issue facing the school district.
“My primary duties every day surround the budget,” he said. “So I think, understanding what has happened to the school’s budget, that I’m somebody who’s already making changes in the trenches here for the state of Alaska. I understand what it takes to reduce administrative overheard without affecting services or affecting programs that are important not only to students but their parents.”
DeBartolo has never gone to a Juneau School Board meeting before, but said he’ll be attending the board retreat on Saturday.
The two candidates who win the regular municipal election in October will join school board members Brian Holst, Andi Story, Josh Keaton, Emil Mackey and Sean O’Brien.
• Contact reporter Lisa Phu at 523-2246 or lisa.phu@juneauempire.com.
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