Editor's Note: As part of Westlake Patch's local election coverage, we will provide profiles of each of the candidates running for office. These profiles will offer biographical and issue-oriented details about each of the candidates to help you, the voters, make more-informed decisions at the ballot box. Stay tuned for more coverage of the election.

Name: Carol L. Winter

Date of Birth: Nov. 4, 1960

Occupation: Graduate assistant at Kent State University, formerly a teacher and assistant principal for 16 years

Education: Bachelor of Science Education from Central Michigan University (1984), Master of Arts Education from Eastern Michigan University (1991)

Family: Husband Kevin Ball, son Marty, a 2006 Westlake High School graduate, and daughter Gwyneth, a sixth-grader at Parkside Intermediate School

Years Residing in Westlake: 10

Office Sought: Westlake Board of Education

Previous Public Offices Held: Current vice president of the Westlake Board of Education— elected in 2007 and served as president in 2010

Registered: Democrat

Email: Carol@ReElectWinter.com

Campaign Web Page: www.ReElectWinter.com and www.Facebook.com/ReElectWinter                                      

Candidate Statement: It has been my privilege to serve the Westlake community as a Board of Education member since 2008 and I ask for your vote on Nov. 8— a vote that will continue our district’s excellence at an exceptional value to our taxpayers.

We are fortunate to live in a community that understands that the strength of our entire community is tied directly to the quality of our schools. Further, while Westlake community members overwhelmingly expect a high quality educational program in our public schools, they also insist that the district do so while keeping our taxes low. By understanding this important balance between quality and savings, I have been able to provide board leadership that protects taxpayer dollars.

The Westlake City School District continues to perform at the highest levels in its educational, arts, and athletic programs as well as in district finances and operations while remaining in the bottom 25% for school property taxes in the county. For the 13^th consecutive year, the Westlake City School District has been rated excellent by the Ohio Department of Education’s state report card. 

The upcoming board of education election is critical to the success of our school district as we continually work to be better tomorrow than we are today. As a board member I have shown that I am a true steward of our schools, which also means remaining responsive to our taxpayers. My professional experience and background make me uniquely qualified to not only understand our local schools, but to also ensure that our strategic planning enables our district to perform at the highest academic and fiscal levels. Most importantly, I have a proven track record of working collaboratively to set high goals and get results. 

Your vote for Carol Winter on Nov. 8 will secure our district’s ability to truly Educate for Excellence while protecting taxpayer dollars. Thank you.

For more candidate profiles and election news, visit Election Central 2011.