Brubaker to face Dillin in February school board election, applications open for second seat

Nathan Brubaker has filed to challenge incumbent Rachel Dillin for Seat 1 on the Stillwater Board of Education in the April 7 election.

Brubaker, a leadership and professional development specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education since October 2012, previously ran for Seat 2 on the Stillwater City Council in 2023. Tim Hardin won that election.

Dillin was appointed to the board in 2023 to replace longtime board member Camille DeYong. She serves as editor in chief at Soap Hub, an online magazine covering American daytime soap operas, and has held that position since October 2021. The upcoming election will be Dillin's first campaign, as she has not previously run for the position.

While candidates for Seat 1 must reside within Ward 1 boundaries in the eastern portion of the district, all voters within the Stillwater Public Schools district boundaries are eligible to vote in the election, not just those living within city limits.

The Seat 1 election is scheduled for April 7, with early voting set for April 2-3 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Polls will be open election day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Board seeks applicants for vacant Seat 2

The board is also accepting applications through Jan. 1 to fill a vacancy created by Tim Riley's resignation. Riley resigned from the board effective Dec. 10 after accepting a CEO position with 3 Rivers Communications, which is headquartered in Montana and requires relocation, according to a district press release issued Sunday. He served nearly seven years on the board, including time as both president and vice president.

The application period for Riley's Seat 2 opened Sunday at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. on Jan. 1. The appointee will serve the remainder of Riley's term, which expires in 2026, because the vacancy occurred in the second half of the term. Seat 2 represents Ward 2, which covers a southwestern portion of the school district.

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Eligibility requirements

Interested residents seeking appointment to the vacant Seat 2 must meet several eligibility requirements, including residing in the Stillwater School District for at least six months and being a registered voter with the Payne County Election Board at an address within the district boundaries for six months preceding the first day of the filing period.

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or certificate of high school equivalency. Within 15 months of appointment, the new board member must complete at least 12 hours of instruction on education issues, including school finance, Oklahoma education laws, and ethics. Three of those credits must be in specific areas: one credit in ethics, one in open meeting and open records acts, and one in school finance.

Board members cannot be currently employed by Stillwater Public Schools or related within the second degree to any other board member or district employee. Applicants also must not have been convicted of embezzlement or a felony within the past 15 years.

Applications are available at stillwaterschools.com/district/board-of-education. Residents can submit applications in person in a sealed envelope Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 19 and on Dec. 22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by mail postmarked by Jan. 1.

Materials should be addressed to Board President Roberta Douglas, care of Clerk Tawni Hooten, Stillwater Board of Education, 314 S. Lewis, Stillwater, OK 74074. For more information, residents can call 405-707-5043.