Carl Jacobs Wins School Board Race
Carl Jacobs, the man relatively unknown to Anchorage residents when he filed to run against school board president Elisa Vakalis, who has served on the board since 2015 — claimed victory tonight in the closely watched race for Seat G.
Jacobs intentionally chose to run for Seat G, knowing it would be the most difficult school board race on the ballot. The challenge became magnified by the tactical withdrawal of David Nees, a perennial anti-establishment candidate who was sure to draw support from Vakalis in a three-way race.
Even so, Jacobs ran a campaign that resonated with Anchorage voters, consistently driving his message that all students deserve a quality education. Jacobs also focused on the importance of a school board willing to show up and perform the work involved with the capable governance of the Anchorage School District.
Jacobs' campaign also appealed to educators and school district support staff, some of whom expressed dissatisfaction over his opponents' positions concerning the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
In a victory statement made to Facebook, Jacobs wrote:
"Well folks, it's (almost) official - we did it! The latest totals made available by the Anchorage Municipal Clerk have confirmed our campaign as the winner in the race for Seat G on the Anchorage School Board.
From the beginning, we have been laser-focused on what matters most - the students, families, and staff of the Anchorage School District. Over the last year, we've heard the concerns of our community loud and clear. Now the real work begins!
As a member of the Board, I intend to follow through and facilitate increased transparency, accountability, and community engagement from ASD. We'll face significant challenges in the years to come, but I'm confident I can help address them by working together with the outstanding group of leaders our electorate has chosen to represent them on the Board.
Our race was a challenging one, and we wouldn't be here today without your support. Whether you invested in our campaign via a monetary contribution, an uplifting message, a detailed policy question, a volunteer shift, casting your ballot, or any combination of the above - I sincerely appreciate your support. Together, we helped facilitate an opportunity for positive change. I'm honored to take on the challenge of making this opportunity a reality for all our kids."
Jacobs and his wife have spent the last decade as licensed treatment foster parents, caring for more than 30 adolescents from diverse backgrounds. Jacobs was primarily seen by those who supported him as being a tireless advocate for children.
Jacobs will serve a term of three years on the Anchorage School Board.
