By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

Incumbent Larry Seurynck and newcomer Julia Smith filed by Tuesday’s deadline for four-year terms on the Dowagiac Board of Education in the May 4 election, according to Chief Deputy-Register Monica Kennedy.

The other incumbent, William J. Lawrence, did not pursue re-election after three terms.
Seurynck, who operates Wood Fire Italian Trattoria, seeks his third term.

In 2006, Seurynck won re-election over Corinne Hoyt and the late Bill Harrington.

Smith, a Cassopolis graduate who lives on McKenzie Street, is the daughter of a teacher.
For the past five years she has been assistant judicial secretary to Cass County Circuit Judge Michael E. Dodge.

Serving on school board would be a “totally new experience,” she said this morning.
She and her husband, Everett, Cass County Fair’s first Backyard Chef, have two children, one in high school and one in elementary school.

Julia has always been involved in schools at the PTO and committee level. Now that she’s at the point where her kids are older, “I was encouraged to run,” she said.
“The schools are facing challenging times and, as a parent, I think I can help them work toward solutions. I’m very interested in schools.”

With all the manufacturing jobs lost locally and in Michigan, students need to be educated for the jobs that will replace them, Smith said.

She was a church secretary for 10 years and obtained a medical assistant degree from Michiana College in South Bend, Ind., working in that field for 5 1/2 years.

She attended Southwestern Michigan College to study office administration before joining Circuit Court, where she assists Karen Moran.

In Edwardsburg, incumbents Michael Gordon and Douglas Hall intend to continue on school board.

Marcellus has two seats available, but only one candidate – Tim Henry.
Cassopolis has no school board positions available May 4.