Preliminary results from Tuesday’s general election show the Carson City School Board will welcome Michelle Pedersen and Rebecca Roberts as incoming trustees and retain incumbent Mike Walker.
Roberts, a Carson resident of 10 years who will represent District 2, ran unopposed and received 21,497 votes as of Thursday. She told the Appeal she appreciated the trust the community is placing in her to help make the best decisions for their children.
Rebecca Roberts
“It made me really excited to see that even though I was unopposed, there were still so many who still took the time to fill in my bubble and show their support,” Roberts said.
Roberts graduated from Utah Valley University with a certificate in early childhood education and is a mother with three children in the Carson City School District. She said her goal is to come into the seat being respectful of the different views and opinions the community has on school issues.
“It’s important for parents to be involved with the school system, and my hope is to be a bridge that creates unity and trust between home and school,” she said.
Pedersen
Pedersen won the District 7 seat, receiving 14,385 votes, or 61%, against opponent John Henley, who took 9,215 votes, or 39%.
Pedersen has lived in Carson City for 20 years and has been involved with youth organizations such as Little League, theatre, bowling, church programs and others. She and her husband have four children who are in the district.
She called the campaign a “humbling and overwhelming” experience in which she was grateful to find community support for her objectives. This will be her first involvement in public office.
“I’ve said quite a few times in my statements that I feel like Carson City is really lucky to have the school board that we have,” she said. “We have one of the healthiest boards in the state. There’s a lot of examples of when things go wrong around us, and I don’t feel like that’s ever been the case here.
“We have a history of good people stepping into serving this way, and it’s a board full of respect and it’s focused on the kids and I’m excited to join it and to be a continuation of what’s been great for them as long as I’ve been served by them,” she said.
Henley and Pedersen ran a friendly campaign and spoke well of each other. Henley, a warden of the Northern Nevada Correctional Center and graduate of Carson High School, said he thought he could have made an effort with some of the local education associations earlier in the process but enjoyed it overall.
“This was a new experience, and overall I would say this was probably about as positive a first experience that you can have without winning … but I’ve still got five or six years of state employment to finish up before I can go for a partisan position,” he said.
Henley added he would continue to watch the district’s current issues, such as cell phone pouches and mental health initiatives.
Mike WalkerWalker, who won the vote and will enter his third and final term for District 5, was encouraged by the results Tuesday. He ran against High Desert Home Care owner Ashliee Saucedo. Walker received 13,973 votes, or 60%, while Saucedo claimed 9,342, or 40%.
“It’s always a little bit nerve-racking waiting for the votes to come in, but it was really validating to see so many people supporting me in this position,” Walker said. “This is largely a voluntary position. We don’t get paid a lot. There’s a small stipend, and so I think one of the nice things about the Carson City School Board is, I feel like all of us are there for the right reason, which is providing the kids in our community the best education possible.”
Walker, principal of Sutro Elementary School in Dayton and a member of the Nevada State Board of Education, said he felt he had the support of educators and colleagues. He also congratulated Saucedo, noting it’s difficult to put oneself as a candidate in the campaign process. Additionally, he thanked the educators and the community for helping to prepare students, the leaders of tomorrow, he said.
“It feels good to work on a team that is focused on that and in a school system that celebrates such high levels of student achievement,” he said.