With the election just days away, candidates for Storey County's open school board seats are analyzing what they have in common and what sets them apart.
Ed Murkovich, 60, who is running against Cathylee James for the 1-A seat, said the two share a common goal.
He said both want to see a change on the board, a goal they achieved in the primary election when incumbent Carol McCracken was defeated.
"I really don't think it's in the interest of the community or the students to have any of the board members who have served a couple of years return," Murkovich said.
His administration experience is what sets him apart from James, he said.
"An advantage that I have is that I have an administrative degree and I understand school finance," he said. "The citizens would have an advantage if they had a citizen on the board that understood school budgets."
James, 43, said an degree in finance is not essential to being a board member.
"The administration really is taxed with that financial burden," she said. "The school board is more of an overseeing body."
James said her greatest strengths are her ability to work hard and be enthusiastic.
"I have an enormous amount of energy and enthusiasm to do the job," she said. "I'll give it everything I have."
Both candidates supported their opponents.
"Both of us will make good school board trustees," James said.
Lee Wilson, 44, is challenging incumbent Cyndy Waldow for the 1-C seat.
"I was tired of all the discontent," Wilson said. "I wanted to get it back on a positive note."
Wilson, who has had children in the Storey County School District for 15 years with two still in school, sees herself more in touch with the district and community than her opponent.
"I volunteer at the schools and I've talked with teachers and students," she said. "They know they can call me."
Wilson said she opposed many of the budget cuts made as a result of the $500,000 shortfall.
"They should not have cut the band program or the hot lunch program," she said.
She is taking a governmental accounting class from Western Nevada Community College in order to better understand finances.
Four-year incumbent Waldow, 41, also has budget experience.
"I've had 14 years of budgeting and forecasting at TRW," she said.
Waldow said she decided to run again to maintain continuity on the board.
"I felt that the district needed consistency, especially with a new superintendent," she said. "I felt a responsibility toward him because I was one of the board members who hired him."
She said she would also like to continue the work the board has done to increase standardized test scores.
"The scores have really come up during my time on the board," she said. "We need to make district employees accountable."
Waldow has two children in the school district.
All four candidates said they are in favor of the trial open campus at Virginia City High School for the remainder of this semester.
