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Cortez school district fills vacant board position
The Cortez Journal
"I was unhappy with the apathy and was challenged by some friends (to run)."
- Brian Demby, appointed board member
A lack of interest in the seat during the election cycle created the need for an appointment.
The seat was vacated when board member Sue Claxton resigned.
Demby, 49, is a radiologist who has been in Cortez since 1994. He and his wife Karla, a local physician, have three children in the school district.
"I was unhappy with the apathy and was challenged by some friends (to run)," Demby said of his interest in the position. "I really didn't realize no one else was running until the 12th hour when it was too late to run." After a public request from the board for interested candidates, Demby submitted a letter of interest in the appointment.
One other letter of interest was received from area resident Linda Germaine.
District board members interviewed the two candidates and made their appointment choice at their meeting Tuesday night.
Demby believes his background will serve him well in his new position.
"I have a background, being in medicine, of analytical thinking," he said. "Although not an educator, I have a background of being highly educated.
"I listen well. I'm a team player who doesn't mind stating my opinion, but I'm fine with others stating their opinions and the group deciding to go in a different direction." Board member Diane Fox agrees that Demby will be an asset to the board.
"Brian communicates well," she said. "He is a sharp guy, and I think his heart is really in the right place as far as why he wanted to serve. He has an overall desire to be of service to his community. I think he is going to be a really good team player." Once he adjusts to his role on the board, Demby hopes to focus on the overall lack of funding for education.
"I'm a bit concerned about finance," he said. "There is, and I believe will be, a shortage of state and federal funds for education. We need to figure out how we as a community are going to fund our schools."
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