MOUNDSVILLE — Several candidates are vying for seats on the Marshall County Board of Education during Tuesday’s primary election.

There are three districts and five candidates on the ballot. Districts 2 and 3 each have two representatives, while District 1 has one seat open.

Board of education seats are nonpartisan.

The candidates and their districts are:

District 1 — Newcomer Levi Carney is running for the Marshall County Board of Education Magisterial District 1 seat; and newcomer David Robbins is running for the Marshall County Board of Education Magisterial District 1 seat.

District 2 — Incumbent Duane Miller of Moundsville is seeking re-election to the Marshall County Board of Education Magisterial District 2 seat; and incumbent Christie Robison of Moundsville also is seeking re-election to the Marshall County Board of Education Magisterial District 2 seat.

District 3 — Cameron resident David Evans is running for a Marshall County Board of Education Magisterial District 3 seat.

LEVI CARNEY

This will be Carney’s first time running for public office.

“I’m running for the Board of Education to help provide direct accountability to our communities through monthly online meetings, surveys and frequent attendance at community events,” Carney said. “I’m focused on bridging the gap between our businesses, organizations and schools for the betterment of our children. I’d like our community members to let me work for them so they can spend their time with their families.”

Carney, who owns the Last Chance Saloon and also works in residential construction, believes his work in the private sector has helped prepare him to become a board member.

“I believe that my experience as a business leader and devout member of my church’s leadership structure has prepared me to reach out to our community through diligent and meaningful work to better help bridge the gap between our schools and the community,” he said.

As a board member, Carney said he would communicate with the public “to gauge any issues they have and begin working with my fellow Board of Education members to address them so we can provide the best possible chances of success for our kids.”

Carney, a Cameron High School graduate, is married to Shannon Carney. She is the office manager at New Martinsville Dental and the children’s Sunday school president at their church. Carney is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he oversees the men’s organization. He also is a member of the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce.

If elected, Carney said he looks forward to serving on the board.

“I’d like to thank them for taking the time to learn about me,” he said of voters. “By doing so, they’re beginning to exercise one of our most important rights and duties — informed voting.”

DAVID ROBBINS

Robbins is a lifelong resident of Marshall County and a realtor who co-owns Allied Realty Groups in Moundsville. Robbins noted that he and his wife, Marcie, have a son, Carter, who attends John Marshall High School. His wife is a teacher at JMHS. The family also has a dog, Barkley.

“Passionate about our community, I serve on 10 local boards and am committed to investing in Marshall County,” he said. “I aim to serve the students, parents and staff of Marshall County Schools by remaining active and accessible, ready to listen to praise or concerns and work toward a stronger community for everyone.”

Robbins also said that last October people in the community reached out to him, encouraging him to run for the board of education. Since then, he has met with several retired teachers, retired superintendents, coaches, current staff members and others about the district.

While Robbins said he is “very pleased” with the current board, he believes he can help keep it moving in the right direction if elected.

Robbins noted he is the current president of the Marshall County Education Foundation and serves on the local school improvement council.

DUANE MILLER

Miller, a Moundsville resident, said he is running for re-election “to keep working with our board, which truly wants the best for the students of Marshall County, while maintaining financial responsibility for taxpayers.”

Miller wants to continue making sure students have the best tools to make a positive impact on the community by giving them an education that will help them succeed in their chosen paths.

“Specifically focusing on early education goals is where it all starts,” he added.

Miller has not held other political positions prior to becoming a board of education member.

“I feel I am qualified because I have gone through this education system years ago, went on to college and professional school,” he said. “Then I just went through it again with my daughter, who will graduate this year. I have spent the last 12 years with the board learning some of the many aspects of what problems students face as barriers — personal, social, economic as well as societal — in addition to the legal guidelines placed on county education.”

Miller said he knows what it takes to be successful both academically and athletically.

“I want each student to feel that they are a part of their own success, and that their schools care for them and want them to achieve by building positive relationships to let them know they matter,” he added.

If re-elected, Miller said he will make sure the board focuses on all students.

“My plans are to make sure we make each student a priority; to challenge them to reach for the best version of themselves by preparing them to function as an adult upon graduation by entering the workforce or going on to postsecondary education,” he said.

Miller is a 1986 graduate of John Marshall High School. He holds a degree in biology from Marshall University. He received his doctor of chiropractic degree from Palmer College. He has owned and operated Miller Chiropractic & Wellness in Moundsville since 1998.

He is president of Marshall County Federal Credit Union’s supervisory board, has served as a regional director of the West Virginia Chiropractic Society, is a member of the Knights of Pythias and attends the Methodist Church in Graysville/Simpson.

Miller is married to Tiffany Miller, a respiratory therapist at WVU Reynolds Memorial Hospital. They have one daughter, Nia Miller, who will graduate second in her class May 19 from JMHS and plans to attend Wheeling University to play volleyball and work toward a doctor of physical therapy degree.

CHRISTIE ROBISON

Robison, a retired educator, works as the church secretary for Hillview Terrace Church of Christ, where she also is an active member.

Robison said board members make many important decisions regarding all aspects of the school district.

“Our schools are tasked with increased responsibilities each day. Faced with abundant rules and regulations, challenged by staffing and financial constraints, board members oversee implementation and delivery of services, working closely with the superintendent and other administrators,” she said.

“Decisions must be made with the students’ best interests first — always — even when less than popular with some. Employees, those who care for our students in various positions, must be treated with respect and dignity; they must be held to high standards. To be sure, we must never neglect supporting them properly. Further, we must be worthy stewards of the taxpayers’ money, cognizant always of the key support they offer.”

Robison said she seeks re-election so she can continue to serve on the board and “give back to the school system and community that has given so much to me.”

“The honor of seeing former students succeed is unparalleled,” she said. “Seeing their children and grandchildren do well in our schools is priceless. It is a privilege to attend concerts, judge academic fairs, cheer at sporting events and simply visit schools and enjoy a quiet ‘Read to Me’ day. All of these, besides being very enjoyable, provide insights into current needs.

“Simply, I want to serve these children — our community.”

Robison, who is single, said, “My former students are my ‘kids.'”

She also is a life member of the parent-teacher association and a former member of various education groups.

DAVID EVANS

Evans, a Cameron resident, is a retired Cameron High School teacher who served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2013-16.

Evans said he wants to serve on the board of education because he believes Cameron needs better representation on the board.

“I felt the Cameron area needed to have someone on the board to represent Cameron. There are five on there now that are from the other side of the mountain,” he said. “Others have connections to John Marshall, but none have a connection to Cameron.”

Evans said he taught accounting and typing and also coached sports for 18 years. He said he enjoys helping groups such as the American Legion and others with fundraising efforts. For example, he helped raise money for new band uniforms for Cameron students.

His wife, Celeste, is a retired teacher and retired school librarian. The couple has one daughter, DeAnne.

Evans is a member of the Cameron sewer board. He also is a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Moundsville.

If elected, Evans said he would like to review how students are performing in math and reading. He believes students need more practice writing and reading cursive. He also believes younger students should not be using electronic devices such as iPads for their studies, but instead should use paper, pencils and books.

“They need to use their brain. … They’re too dependent on AI and cellphones,” he said.

Evans believes he is qualified to serve as a board member because of his background in education and knowledge of how government works, in addition to his experience communicating with a variety of people.

“As a member of the board of education, I feel I will have the best interests of the students at heart. I want the kids to do well and be successful,” he said.

“As an elected member of the board, I will try to represent the Cameron area to the best of my ability; people can talk to me about whatever.”