Dan DeBartolo was the fourth candidate to file for Juneau School Board by deadline Monday afternoon. He joined Kevin Allen, Jason Hart and Steve Whitney in a four-way race to fill two seats being left vacant by members Barbara Thurston and Lisa Worl.<\/p>\n
[The race is on: Four in the running to fill two school board seats<\/a>]<\/p>\n This is DeBartolo\u2019s first foray into running for elected office.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife and I were debating it all week, more because I\u2019m a dad with a kid who is 20-months-old, one who\u2019s 4-years-old and now one who\u2019s just entering first grade. They\u2019re all going to come through the public school system and, first and foremost, I\u2019d like to have a voice in things that will affect my kids, but I actually believe I can bring something to the table,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n DeBartolo, 42, is the director of administrative services for Alaska\u2019s Department of Revenue. Prior to that, he was director of the Permanent Fund Dividend Division.<\/p>\n He said he\u2019s the right candidate during this state budget crisis, which he considers the biggest issue facing the school district.<\/p>\n \u201cMy primary duties every day surround the budget,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I think, understanding what has happened to the school\u2019s budget, that I\u2019m somebody who\u2019s already making changes in the trenches here for the state of Alaska. I understand what it takes to reduce administrative overheard without affecting services or affecting programs that are important not only to students but their parents.\u201d<\/p>\n DeBartolo has never gone to a Juneau School Board meeting before, but said he\u2019ll be attending the board retreat on Saturday.<\/p>\n The two candidates who win the regular municipal election in October will join school board members Brian Holst, Andi Story, Josh Keaton, Emil Mackey and Sean O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n \u2022 Contact reporter Lisa Phu at 523-2246 or lisa.phu@juneauempire.com.<\/p>\n Read more news:<\/strong><\/p>\n Feds designate Juneau’s Indian Point as sacred, worthy of protection<\/a><\/p>\n