2 trios vie for SUSD seats

Oct. 7—The latest trend in basketball is "3 x 3" — amateur leagues of three ballers on each side are common in gyms around the country. Three-on-three is so popular, it's now an Olympic sport.

Scottsdale politics has its own "3 x 3" battle on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Julie Cieniawski, Zach Lindsay and Libby Hart Wells all have governing board terms expiring at the end of this year; all are not running for reelection.

Scottsdale voters — and others within the Scottsdale Unified School District boundaries — will see six candidates for three governing board seats.

The Scottsdale ballots list:

—Jacobs, Gretchen;

—Lewis, Donna;

—Pittinsky, Matt;

—Sharkey, Mike;

—Beasley, Jeanne;

—Hassler, Drew.

Voters are asked to choose "not more than three" candidates.

"Three" is the key word here, as teams of three have formed.

Campaign signs around town feature not individual candidates — but the two trios.

The Scottsdale Education Association is endorsing Lewis, Pittinsky and Sharkey.

The three other candidates — Beasley, Hassler and Jacobs — have formed a coalition and are backed by Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity.

Beasley's campaign site provides links to "the candidates running with me" — Hassler and Jacobs.

On Jacobs' website, she calls out the group's slogan:

"Just Be Honest JBH ... JBH=Jacobs, Beasley, Hassler."

It's quite fitting that each group of three provides three campaign goals.

The JBH trio say they are running on:

—Academic achievement;

—Student safety;

—Fiscal responsibility.

The SLP trio's three priorities:

—Provide an academically challenging education in a safe and nurturing environment;

—Respect and partner with parents, educators, and community members;

—Protect our neighborhood schools, property values, and tax dollars.

While nine potential candidates filed a relatively painless, one-page "statement of interest," only the six listed above followed through with the required 400 signatures of support to make the ballot.

Hassler turned in 766 signatures, Beasley 974 and the other four between 1,004 and 1,084.