By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
RIVERVIEW — The school board here will look a little different after Tuesday’s election.
Incumbent Vice President James Wellman Kiturkes lost his bid for re-election, netting 1,234 votes.
Newcomer Amy Wright won one of two seats with 3,206 votes. The other seat went to Michael Pelkey with 1,872 votes.
Challenger Jim Makowski lost his bid for a seat with 1,573 votes.
Wright, who launched an unsuccessful write-in campaign during the last election, said she is excited to start working on the issues that caused her to run, like stronger communication between the school board and parents and passing a school improvement millage, which was struck down in two prior elections.
“We need to come together and get that passed for the needs in our building, like a new boiler, roof and windows,” she said. “I feel like a lot of people in our community heard about other (planned improvements) like to our sporting facility and were turned off by that.”
Wright, Pelkey and Kiturkes did not return phone calls seeking comment for this story by press time. A phone number could not be found for Makowski.
Monday also brought a resignation from School Board Treasurer Catherine Wells, due to health issues. Her term, ending Dec. 31, will be posted and applicants may apply to the school board office, 13425 Colvin.
The city also passed a charter amendment prohibiting those with outstanding water or tax bills from holding city office. That measure passed 1,873 votes to 620 votes.
Uncontested school board races were held for Allen Park and Melvindale-Northern Allen Park school boards.
On the Allen Park board, uncontested candidates Brian Kirby and Gordon Miller each gained one of the two seats up for grabs on the board. Kirby received 5,121 votes while Miller netted 5,323.
On the Mel-NAP board, incumbent Harriet Bowerman received 2,670 votes, securing her current seat and Robert Turner took the other seat with 2,630 votes. Both terms are four years.
Alex Atanasovski ran unopposed for a two-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2014. He received 3,263 votes.The seat was vacated by Jim Beri, who left to become Melvindale city administrator.