Mt. Pleasant School Board Candidate forum set for April 30 ahead of special election

MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance and KILJ Radio will host a public Candidate Forum on Tuesday, April 30, at 6 p.m. in the Mt. Pleasant High School Library, ahead of a special election to fill a vacancy on the Mt. Pleasant Community School District Board of Education.

The special election, set for May 13, comes after the resignation of board member Sarah Donnolly earlier this year. Rather than appointing a replacement, the community group Citizens of MPCSD for Change and other community members successfully petitioned for a public vote, allowing residents to select the next representative for District Two.

Two candidates are on the ballot: Mark Overberg and Todd Liechty.

Overberg, a lifelong resident of Mt. Pleasant, grew up on a family farm and currently works as a production manager at Continental in Mt. Pleasant. He previously spent 25 years farming and emphasizes skills in communication, accountability, and business planning. His children attended schools in the district, and he cites his father’s legacy as a school board advocate as inspiration for his own candidacy.

Liechty, a 1979 Mt. Pleasant High School graduate, brings decades of experience in educational leadership. He served as principal of Mt. Pleasant High School from 2006 to 2021 before taking on a shared superintendent role for the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock and Nashua-Plainfield school districts in northeast Iowa. Liechty recently returned to Mt. Pleasant with the goal of continuing to serve the local education system.

The school board plays a pivotal role in setting policies, approving budgets, and ensuring the quality of education in the district. While the seat is designated for a resident of District Two, all voters within the Mount Pleasant Community School District may cast a ballot in the at-large election.

The April 30 forum will offer voters the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and ask questions before heading to the polls. More information is available through the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance and KILJ Radio websites.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com