Incumbents and newcomers alike are vying for the three open seats on the New Albany-Plains Local Schools Board of Education.
Incumbents John McClelland and Mark Wilson are competing with new candidates Coleen Barber and Gregory C. Walther. Debra Kalinosky, current board president, is not running for re-election.
Ohio’s general election is Nov. 4, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters also may cast their ballots early at the Franklin County Board of Elections, 1700 Morse Road.
The information below was supplied by candidates responding to a questionnaire. The Dispatch only edited responses for length or clarity.
Candidates Coleen Barber, John McClelland and Mark Wilson did not respond to The Dispatch’s questionnaire before the established deadline.
Gregory C. Walther
Campaign website: waltherfornewalbany.com
Key issues: Keeping students first in decision-making; respecting parents as students’ first teachers; providing teachers and administrators with the resources they need to be successful; responsibly stewarding district resources, including the $135 million resulting from the bond levy approved by taxpayers in 2024.
Background: Walther is attorney and risk management executive in the financial industry, as well as the father of a rising fourth grader, second grader, and kindergartner in (New Albany-Plain Local Schools). He earned a bachelor’s degree from “The Ohio State University” and a law degree from the University of Houston Law. He is a licensed attorney in the state of Texas. He, his wife and their children live in New Albany. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing basketball and watching 80’s movies.
Why are you the best candidate? “As the father of three young children in the New Albany-Plain Local Schools (NAPLS) District and a New Albany resident since 2014, I know first-hand the exciting opportunities that are in front of the district. Current focuses include serving a dynamic and growing student population. Effectively executing on these opportunities is critical to ensure that NAPLS continues to create a culture of accountability that achieves the best academic and developmental outcomes for each student.
“The successful candidates in this campaign will be sitting on the Board of a roughly $80 million organization and tasked with executing on legal responsibilities for the benefit of students, families, teachers, and administrators across the school district. I believe my experience as a trusted advisor to the Board and management of large financial institutions, volunteer on the NAPLS Citizens Advisory Committee for Student Belonging, volunteer on the NAPLS Campus Master Plan Levy Committee in support of the bond levy passed last November, and parent of three students in the district makes me uniquely positioned to execute on the key legal responsibilities of the NAPLS Board of Education to support the provision of high quality educational opportunities for NAPLS students.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Incumbents and new faces vying for New Albany-Plains Local Schools board seats
Reporting by Samantha Hendrickson, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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