Both incumbents and newcomers gaining ground in OPS board race

Unofficial election results late Tuesday showed that newcomers and incumbents were leading in contested subdistrict races for the Omaha Public Schools board.

Three newcomers, two incumbents and one former board member are on the general election ballot for three contested seats. As of 10 p.m., incumbent Nick Thielen had 72% of the votes compared to his opponent Paul Anderson in the Subdistrict 3 race, based in north-central Omaha.

Thielen, a Democrat, was first elected to the board in 2020 and works as an attorney. Anderson, a political independent, has also previously ran in local races including state treasurer and Omaha City Council.

If reelected, Thielen said he looks forward to reorganizing the district's next strategic plan so it can have a stronger focus on fewer goals.

"I'm sure the results will hold," he said. "I'm looking forward to digging in on the work we have started over the last year — especially related to literacy."

In the northwest Omaha Subdistrict 5 seat, newcomer Gini Magnuson was in the lead with nearly 56% of the votes in front of Spencer Head, incumbent and current board president. Head, a Republican, was elected along with Thielen and is the CEO of EZPolitix in Omaha. Magnuson, a Democrat, has a 20-year career in finance and currently works in risk management.

Magnuson said one of the most important priorities she discusses with people is improving the district's staffing shortage.

Erik Servellon and Kimara Snipes are competing in east Omaha's Subdistrict 9, a seat currently held by Tracy Casady, who isn't running for reelection. As of 10 p.m., the Subdistrict 9 race was close with Snipes in the lead at 55% of the votes.

Servellon ran for the board in 2020 and Snipes is a former board member who resigned in 2021 after moving out of her subdistrict. Servellon has previously ran for local positions including Omaha City Council.

Snipes, the executive director of the nonprofit One Omaha, said she knew she wanted to rejoin the OPS board when she found out Casady wasn't running for reelection. She said if she were elected, she would focus on increasing community engagement in OPS.

Snipes had to resign from her position in Subdistrict 8 when she moved in 2021 after spending three years in her seat.

She said while she's nervous about the close race, she feels pretty good about what the outcome will be after Tuesday.

"Regardless of what happens, the work doesn't stop," she said. "I will still be paying attention. I'm excited to go back, assuming the numbers continue to go as they are right now."

Snipes said teachers and community members were grateful for her accessibility when she was on the board and she hopes to continue that if elected.

"I'm excited to be able to be there to represent people again," she said.

Ricky Smith, incumbent and current board vice president, is the sole candidate for Subdistrict 1 in northeast Omaha while incumbent Jane Erdenberger is the sole candidate for Subdistrict 7 in south-central Omaha.

The OPS board has had to juggle several challenges and changes over recent years. Earlier this year, the board managed the hiring of Superintendent Matt Ray after Superintendent Cheryl Logan resigned. Members also approved a historical tax levy decrease this fall.

OPS school board positions are nonpartisan, unpaid and last four years. While board members elected Tuesday night will be sworn in after the new year, the OPS school board will still have one vacancy to deal with that can't be filled by the general election.

Margo Juarez was appointed to the board in December 2021 is leaving to run for the Nebraska Legislature.

"I absolutely enjoyed serving on the school board, and I guess I found it as a pleasant surprise — holding a position of this nature and public service and going into it completely blind," Juarez said. "I feel very fortunate that I had the exposure, because it definitely boosted my confidence to think about other areas, which is why I pursued the legislative position."

Juarez said her favorite part of being a part of the OPS board was hiring Ray, a process that took several months and many meeting discussions.

"It was an important step and I was really amazed at the depth of support that Mr. Ray received in the community, and so that really was an amazing learning process," Juarez said.

Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

K-12 Education Reporter