K-M School Board

Amy Olson
I want to express my commitment and readiness to once again serve on the Kasson-Mantorville School Board. With nearly eight years of experience leading the policy committee, I have a deep understanding of the vital role that policies play in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community.
My track record shows that I am not only capable but also dedicated. I believe in facing challenges head-on and gathering all necessary information to represent our community effectively. I strive to make informed decisions that will positively impact our students, staff, and the entire community.
If reelected, I will continue to be a fierce advocate for our students and staff, bringing a genuine and strong voice to the board. Together, we can build a brighter future for our schools.
Thank you for your support!
Pat Walsh
I’d love for people to know that with me what you see is what you get. I’m transparent almost to a fault. I’ll tell you what I’m thinking but also be open when I don’t understand something and need more information. I absolutely love to learn anything new and to hear people’s stories. I tend to be the person that people come to when they want (or need) an honest but not rude answer.
Aaron Stockard
After retiring from the Navy in 2020 I was blessed with the opportunity to stay home and help raise our three children. I am passionate about being an active participant in their development into compassionate, inquisitive and loving humans who will hopefully carry these traits into their adulthood. As a stay-at-home Dad who enjoys teaching and serving, I have had the opportunity to substitute at our schools and had a chance to see our classrooms in person. We have an amazing school district, with amazing teachers and support staff. However, just like many other schools we face challenges.
One of the things I am most passionate about is addressing the needs of the students who have significant behavioral issues and/or are significantly behind academically. We must support our teachers with the resources they need to ensure no child is left behind and all children are being challenged to their fullest potential. This means as a community we must be willing to invest in the greatest resource our schools have, and that is its human capital of teachers, paraprofessionals, early education specialists, secretaries, cleaners and all support staff.
I was honored to serve our country in the Navy and I would be honored to fulfill a civic duty by serving our community as a schoolboard member. Thank you for reading this and for your interest in our community. Also, a huge thank you to all the employes of our school district who sacrifice and work so hard for our children!
Eric Mesa
I am just a humble father, husband and community member with a strong desire to be involved in making sure that our children get the best possible education, learning environment and leadership.
I am running for the board to improve the quality of public education in the community.
I am sincerely dedicated to children’s learning.
I believe every child can achieve at least at grade level or strive to get there.
I am driven by improved outcomes and performance.
I believe decisions should be based on the best interests of the children, not individual constituents or single-interest groups.
I will stay informed about innovative practices in the local district and elsewhere that show positive results.
I respect others’ views and have a desire to work to build consensus.
I am not a slave to the status quo if it’s not producing the desired results.
I commit to spend time and energy needed to stay informed and active on all issues pertaining to schools in the district.
I am aware of the chronic problems that face public education in Minnesota such as turning around low-performing schools, closing the achievement gap, and reducing dropout rates.
I express a commitment to public service, not personal gain or ambition.
 
I will bring leadership, dedication, and willingness to see both sides of the issues. I am very excited for the future of Kasson-Mantorville school district and would love to be a part of leading it into the future.
Elizabeth Armstrong
I think that the most important thing that I want voters to know is that I am dedicated. I care deeply about education, children in our community, and the future of education. I will work hard. I will read, research, ask for opinions, and work respectfully and efficiently to make fair decisions for our community. I take this responsibility seriously.
Something unique that I can provide is diverse prospectives. My family has been part of public schools, private schools, special education, and in addition to that I worked with many diverse families in our community. I have education and experience with schools and can think through decisions with many different lenses.
State Rep
What is the most important thing you want voters to know about yourself as they head to the polls next week? What can you provide that other candidates cannot?
Limit of 250 words
Heather Holmes
First and foremost, regardless of whether or not people support my candidacy, I hope every eligible voter in our district makes their voice heard. Our democracy works best when everyone has a seat at the table!
One thing I want voters to know is that if elected, my door will always be open. I want to hear from constituents, even if we don’t agree on the issues. The job of a representative is in the name: it’s to represent the people of their district. It’s impossible for someone to know everything about everything, and we can always learn from one another. My career in science helps me be open to new ideas and excited to learn new information. I will always be open to understanding people’s perspectives in order to help me make the best decisions for the people of 24A. If elected, I plan to focus on policies that will put people first and help ensure they are able to provide for themselves and their families.
Duane Quam
I’m analytical, creative, and driven to find solutions. I work with what the current situations and circumstances are and look to improve them.
While serving in the MN house for over a decade, I have worked for real solutions, avoiding unintended consequences, and to fix the problems that have come along.
To focus on issues important to our communities, I listen to people about the issues that they encounter in their lives and generate bills and amendments to address them. Over the years, this has had a positive effect for us and across Minnesota.
I have a history of exposing weaknesses in bills and helping fix them. This has produced numerous occasions of working with my colleagues across the aisle. A recent example was the transportation chair coming to me for a micro transit amendment. I wrote it, even though I’m not on his committee, and he included it in his omnibus bill.
Focusing on the issues and finding solutions is part of why I have authored and passed bills every session, even while in the minority. For example, last year a large portion of my anti-swatting bill passed, and helped get another, more comprehensive anti-swatting bill passed this year.