Denver voters signal they want school board change as three union-backed candidates head toward loss
In a campaign defined more by school safety than traditional issues that have animated Denver school board elections, three candidates who promised a shift from the status quo won their races by significant margins, according to preliminary results.
Former East High School Principal John Youngquist had a commanding lead over Kwame Spearman, co-owner of Tattered Cover bookstores, in the citywide at-large race, which had no incumbent.
Challenger Marlene De La Rosa defeated incumbent Charmaine Lindsay to represent northwest Denver, and challenger Kimberlee Sia defeated incumbent Scott Baldermann to represent southeast Denver.
“Our job is to start listening more deeply to the entire community,” Youngquist said Tuesday night after the second round of election results were posted at 8:30 p.m.
The school board has been controlled by union-backed members for the past two years. That group will continue to hold the majority on the seven-member board, but voters rejected all three of the union-backed candidates Tuesday.
The winners had significant financial backing from organizations linked to charter schools and education reform.