A candidate for a seat on the Durango School District 9-R board has withdrawn from the race.
Cara-Lynn Lappen was one of three candidates vying to represent District E, which includes the area north of downtown and east of the Animas River.
The position is currently held by Shere Byrd, who will serve on the board until the biennial school election on Nov. 7, when three board positions are up.
Lappen, a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is the vice president of operations for Global Technology Management.
She described her decision to withdraw as “heart wrenching” but necessary because of family issues.
“My heart is 100 percent into this because all I want to do is make a difference in the school district, but my parents fell ill after the hurricane in Florida,” Lappen said. “I’ve been going back and forth between here and Florida, and I did not feel like with these demands I could devote the time needed to be effective at the job.”
Lappen said she may support candidate Emily Newcomer, who will run against Byrd for District E in the election.
“From what I’ve read, I am leaning toward Emily because a lot of what she talks about was a part of my platform,” she said. “I do feel like what I am passionate about is represented well in Emily.”
Ballots have already been printed, so Lappen’s name will appear on them. But the county clerk and recorder’s office has been notified of her withdrawal, as well as the League of Women Voters.
Lappen said despite the setback, she plans to run for a position on the school board in the future.
“I want to stay involved in education in some way by volunteering through the district,” she said. “I just can’t take on a commitment of this magnitude at this time.”
mrupani@durangoherald.com
