Election 2002: State Board of Education

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 | 11:05 a.m.

Six candidates are vying for three seats on the state Board of Education, an 11-member, nonpartisan panel responsible for setting the standards that govern Nevada's schools.

District 6

Incumbent Patrick Boylan's opponent on the ballot will be Albert Ochoa, 24, a claims adjuster making his first bid for public office.

A college instructor, Boylan said he wants to see improved accountability at both the district and state level.

Ochoa said he plans to improve the state's vocational programs along with classroom technology.

District 2

Incumbent Gary P. Waters will face political newcomer Roger "Oz" Baum.

Waters, 52, has served two terms on the board and is a 10-year employee of the state's Division of Human Resources. He said his priorities include developing a leadership academy for education policymakers, expanding student support services and improving campus safety.

Baum, 54, is a former stockbroker and the author of several children's books. He is the great-grandson of the late L. Frank Baum and has published several titles inspired by the "Oz" series.

Baum said he wants to see Nevada encourage more charter schools and trade schools so that parents and students will have more educational choices.

District 5

Incumbent Priscilla Rocha will face reading teacher Dorothy Nolan.

Rocha, 54, a Clark County School District bilingual education teacher, said her goals are to further reduce Nevada's high school dropout rate and improve cafeteria nutrition.

Nolan, 70, retired after 25 years as a teacher with the Clark County School District. She advocates improving Nevada's standards for grade promotion and graduation.