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Candidate stops campaigning for Janesville School Board

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Diedre Richard

JANESVILLE TOWNSHIP — The Janesville School Board election is no longer a horse race.

Or is it?

Incumbent Diedre Richard announced Tuesday she is moving out of the district, so she won’t continue to campaign.

That leaves three candidates—Karl Dommershausen, Kristin Hesselbacher and incumbent Peter D. Severson—who are still campaigning.

Five candidates qualified for the ballot in January. Rene’ Bue announced March 1 that she was dropping out because of health concerns.

Rock County Clerk Lori Stottler said it’s too late to remove Richard and Bue from the April 6 ballot, so they still could be elected. Richard said that she still wants people to vote for her, but she won't campaign.

Stottler, who also is a member of the school board, noted Richard could continue to serve until she moves. Richard said it’s not yet certain when the move will happen, but she and her husband have made arrangements to complete the move by sometime in July.

“Should I be elected, I will continue to serve as a member of the board until the time arrives when I am not eligible to do so any longer,” Richard said in a news release. “I am informing district residents as early as possible so they have all the facts before voting on April 6.”

Richard said her family will remain in Janesville Township, but the house they are buying is in the Milton School District.

Richard said she filed for open enrollment, so her children will continue to attend Janesville schools.

If either Richard or Bue are elected, the school board could appoint someone to serve until the 2011 elections, Stottler said. The board also could decide to continue with fewer members until April 2011.

Richard was elected in April 2009 to fill out the term of a board member who resigned.

Stottler said she’s disappointed Richard won’t be able to pursue her ideas for the schools because she has a lot to offer, including her background in business.

Richard earlier this year championed a switch to zero-based budgeting, something the administration is embracing.

“I really think this was going to be her time to bring her ideas forward. I’m sad for the people of Janesville,” Stottler said.

Diedre’s husband, Rick Richard, is running as a Republican for state Senate in the fall elections. The move will not affect that election, Diedre said.