Zielke wins special election to round out Green’s school board seat
Published 8:18 am Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Isabelle Krueger and Dan Zielke take part in September’s forum presented by the American Association of University Women at the Community Action Building. Zielke won the special election to round out Kathy Green's seat on the board. Herald file photo
Longtime Austin Schools Board member Don Leathers smiles as it was announced that he had been named to the Minnesota School Boards Association’s (MSBA) All-State School Board during the Austin Public Schools Board Meeting in November of 2022. Herald file photo
Cece Kroc
Robert Hartman
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Newcomer Dan Zielke has won the special election and will fill the seat left vacant by Kathy Green, who retired on Nov. 4 to spend more time with her family.
Zielke, a newcomer to office, defeated Isabella Krueger with 6,906 votes (51.09%) as opposed to Isabella Krueger who collected 6,559 votes (48.52%).
Green announced her retirement earlier this year with an original retirement date of Dec. 31, however, she moved it up to Nov. 4 so that the district could call Tuesday night’s special election.
Zielke will now fill out the remaining two years of Green’s current time on the board.
In the regular school board race, longtime board member Don Leathers (8,762 votes) and Cece Kroc (8,398 votes), who secured a second term, were the top vote-getters.
Robert Hartmann II (5,143) will join them as a new face on the board to round out the top three winners of that race.
Watsana Thiravong (4,687, 14.85%) and Berghyn Hull (4,421, 14.01%) rounded out the candidates.
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