School board member Josh Keaton will not run for re-election, he announced by email Thursday, making him the second of two incumbents to drop out of this year’s school board contest.<\/p>\n
Speaking by phone, Keaton confirmed his decision and said it was a matter of work-life balance. As demands have increased at work, he needed to decide between spending time with his family or spending time on school board business.<\/p>\n
“It really just boils down to balance of work, family — and the school board time required has become challenging,” he said.<\/p>\n
Keaton intends to fulfill the rest of his term.<\/p>\n
Three school board seats are on the Oct. 2 municipal election ballot: Keaton’s, the seat held by Andi Story, and the seat held by Emil Mackey. Story is running for the Alaska Legislature, and Mackey is seeking re-election.<\/p>\n
The official candidate signup period doesn’t open until August, but two Juneauites have already signaled their intentions to run: biologist Elizabeth Siddon<\/a> and programmer Paul Kelly<\/a>. <\/p>\n Keaton, who works for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Juneau, used to work across the hall from Siddon, and he said he really likes her as a candidate.<\/p>\n “She definitely has my vote,” he said.<\/p>\n Keaton said he told fellow board members by email about his decision, something Mackey confirmed by phone. The message was a surprise, Mackey said. “As of two days ago, he told me he was still leaning to run, so this shocked me.”<\/p>\n “I think he’s one of our most active board members, and he always comes to the meetings prepared. He’s just a ball of energy, and we’re really going to miss that,” Mackey said.<\/p>\n Mackey added that he has thought deeply about his own decision to run for re-election. Though he will miss Keaton, Mackey said Juneau is fortunate with this year’s elections.<\/p>\n “I looked at the candidates, and I’m very impressed with their qualifications. It’s very nice to have an abundance of talent,” he said.<\/p>\n