On Tuesday night, new board members Rafe O’Brien, Leland Collins, Mike Lynch and Rhonda Tracy were elected to the Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 school board, replacing former members Cody Wells, Lyndreth Wall, Sherri Wright and Layne Frazier.
O’Brien, replacing Wells in District A; Collins, replacing Wall in District D and Lynch, replacing Frazier in District G ran unopposed for their Board seats, while Lewis and Tracy both vied for Wright’s District C seat, with Tracy garnering the highest number of votes.
“I am so honored and happy to have won the election for school board. I believe I am the best person to fill this position and I will do everything in my power to help make this school district the best that it can be,” Tracy said. “Thank you to everyone who voted for me and who sent encouraging comments. Now the work can begin.”
After unofficial votes were updated at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Tracy received 57.21% of the vote, and Lewis received 42.79%.
Board President Sheri Noyes and members Jeanette Hart and Ed Rice are in the middle of their four-year terms.
O’Brien’s children attend the school district, and he previously told The Journal, “I want to give back to the schools and have my voice heard, for my children and other families.”
Collins, who is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, is a father of seven kids aged 12-26, and a grandfather of two. He shared that he is a parent of a special needs child, and he is “committed to raising awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities…”
He has previously served as a vocational rehabilitation youth counselor, and he has played and coached basketball for many years, even participating in various events such as the Native American Indigenous Games and the Colorado State Games.
Lynch told The Journal that he and his wife have raised “or helped raise” six children through fostering in Montezuma County and two other states.
Tracy is a retired U.S. history teacher and Air Force veteran who has served on other boards in the past, now working as a self-employed bookkeeper and caregiver for her disabled sister.
She said she hopes to use her position on the board to help serve the community.
The new board members will begin serving in their new positions immediately, being present for the next board meeting on Nov. 28.
