Thompson, Heidelberger Lead Madison School Board Poll

Last updated on 2011.03.07

The latest Madville Times poll finds Jennie Thompson and yours truly leading the race for two open seats on the Madison Central School Board. With five weeks until the school board election, 122 of you (well, a couple of you double-dipped, you naughty neighbors!) clicked as follows:

Who gets your vote for Madison Central School Board? (pick 2)

1. Jennie Thompson: 57% (70 votes)
2. Cory Allen Heidelberger: 53% (65)
3. Corey Gunderson: 29% (35)
4. Shawn Miller: 25% (30)
5. Nathan Nash: 11% (13)

Total Voters: 122

As usual, margin of error is just slightly larger than Madison Central estimates of new gym costs, so take these numbers as valid reflections of the electorate at your own risk. But hey, this is the only poll in town, so let's make some interpretational hay! What might these early numbers mean?

1. Folks are leaning local: Thompson and I are both MHS graduates. Gunderson and Nash are relatively recent transplants. But Miller is an MHS grad as well, so any local-yokel hypothesis has limits.
2. Folks are leaning lady: Our seven-member school board has just two women. One of them, Tammy Jo Zingmark, is stepping down this year. Maybe progressive Madisonites don't want female representation on the board cut in half?
3. Heidelberger is toast! I came in a mere second in a poll I ran myself! Surely Madison knows better than to put me in charge of anything. Consider that in 2008, I came in first in my own pre-election poll, then placed third in the election. My 2008 poll did reflect the order of popularity of the other candidates, so if that pattern holds true here, then the other Corey (with an e!) would be the logical guess for second place.

Of course, with five weeks to go, a lot of minds have yet to be made up. I'm the only candidate with much on the record with respect to school issues. Miller has signaled his dissatisfaction with the previous new gym/renovation plan and his desire to work out a plan focused on needs over wants. Thompson took the time to compose a campaign announcement but didn't go beyond the careful positive talk of a Leadership Madisonâ„¢-trained candidate. Gunderson and Nash have yet to issue any detailed campaign announcements or policy statements. Start talking issues, and votes may fall into very different columns.

But does any of that matter, dear readers? Do statements in the press or policy positions matter in a Madison school board race? Or will 20% of the electorate show up and just vote for the folks they know best or go to church with (time for some St. Thomas outreach, Nathan!) or see at Nicky's?

I'll poll this race again close to election time, and we'll see if there's any movement. Until then, you be the pundit, dear readers! Who's going to win and why?