Two Manhattan women have become the eighth and ninth candidates to enter the USD 383 school board race.
Teresa Parks filed her letter of intent Friday with the Riley County Clerk’s office. Parks is a career transition readiness specialist at Flint Hills Job Corps. She’s also an advocate for social justice and was a speaker during last year’s Juneteenth march through City Park.
Betty Mattingly-Ebert, a Manhattan resident and business owner, also filed Friday for candidacy in the USD 383 school board race.
Parks and Mattingly-Ebert join a crowded field of candidates vying for three seats on the school board. That list includes Incumbent Karla Hagemeister, Jennifer Chua, Kevin Harms, Jayme Morris-Hardeman, Steven Ruzzin, Carl Treece and Christine Weixelman. Incumbent school board members Jurdene Coleman and Katrina Lewison have not indicated their intent to seek re-election.
A Manhattan businessman is the latest candidate for a seat on the Manhattan City Commission.
Joseph McGraw filed for the upcoming election Thursday. McGraw is the president of Restore of the Heartland, a Manhattan water damage restoration service company. He’s also a 1976 graduate of Kansas State University.
McGraw’s filing brings the total number of candidates for the city commission race up to six. All three incumbents, Wynn Butler, Aaron Estabrook and Usha Reddi have filed for re-election. Additional challengers include Kaleb James and Monica Macfarlane.
The filing deadline is Tuesday.