Voters clean Seattle School Board house a 2nd time in 4 years

A new majority will take over the Seattle School Board in the second major housecleaning in four years, a political turnaround funded lavishly by the business community.

Incumbents Sally Soriano and Darlene Flynn — part of a crusading, activist majority elected in 2003 — lost Tuesday night.

The winners — Peter Maier, Sherry Carr, Harium Martin-Morris and Steve Sundquist — campaigned on the promise of a more cooperative, professional School Board. Their approach won the support of area business leaders, who donated tens of thousands to their campaigns.

Brita Butler-Wall, who did not seek a second term after winning as part of 2003's new majority, blamed the outcome on large donations and a media "witch hunt."

"We actually accomplished many, many reforms, which did not make us popular," she said. "I think what you see here is sort of a backlash from the business community."

Carr, who beat Flynn to represent Green Lake and Fremont in District 2, said the shift proved voters have been dissatisfied with the current board.

"There's been discontent in the community," she said. "I think this is a message that signals that they want change."

With passage of the district's bond and levy early this year, a new superintendent in place and a change in the School Board under way, Sundquist said the results show voters are optimistic.

"I think that there just has been some frustration, obviously, with the existing board," he said. "I think there is a sense that there is an expectation now of some results and an optimism that we can do it."

In District 3, which includes Ravenna and the University District, Martin-Morris had an overwhelming lead over David Blomstrom to take Butler-Wall's seat, and in District 6, Sundquist held a significant lead over Maria Ramirez for the seat currently held by Irene Stewart, who did not seek re-election. District 6 includes West Seattle and South Park.

After early returns were posted, Ramirez declined to comment.

In District 1, the northernmost part of the city, Maier raised $163,000 — more than 10 times what Soriano raised. He said Tuesday's winners do not agree on all issues but said they are like-minded in approach.

"It's not about ideology. It's not about emotion. It's what's best for our kids and how we work with the superintendent and her staff in developing viable solutions."

Although the candidates must live in their districts and compete in their districts for the primary, the general election is a citywide vote for School Board.

The winning majority in 2003 promised to resist what they felt were the previous board's tendencies to "rubber-stamp" the 46,000-student district's policies.

The past four years, however, have been anything but smooth. Controversy erupted over last year's school-closure vote. Critics also felt the board was too argumentative and said the board's "dysfunctional" behavior drove out former Superintendent Raj Manhas.

This fall's School Board races drew unprecedented donations from the business community, which poured thousands of dollars into the candidates who were ahead Tuesday night.

Maier, Carr, Martin-Morris and Sundquist promised to give the seven-member School Board a more professional and cooperative tone.

Disagreements over candidate style dominated the campaigns.

Maier argued that Soriano micromanaged district staff and put personal causes ahead of the good of the district. Soriano promised to protect the district from corporate interests and to fight for constituent causes.

Flynn defended the board's record, saying that a "dysfunctional" group could not have closed schools and hired a new superintendent. Carr touted her connections to parents and her financial skills as a Boeing financial manager.

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246

or eheffter@seattletimes.com