District E School Board incumbent Cole exits race

John Cole won't be fighting to keep his seat on the School Board that oversees the nation's fifth-largest system, the Clark County School District, and 308,000 students.

He pulled out of the race as the June 12 primary nears, citing his business as an independent financial consultant and his family as the main reasons.

"If I'm not able to give it all the time it deserves, it would be difficult to sit up there in front of people," he said of his board duties, which take 10 to 25 hours a week. "I'm finding I need to get back to the basics of family and profession."

Cole, 52, is former chief operating officer and chief financial officer of the Fremont Street Experience and chief financial officer of Walker Furniture. He has a master's degree in business administration from Eastern Illinois University and currently does business consulting.

His consultant work was part time until a couple months ago, when it became full time. For that reason, Cole was hesitant to file for re-election, not registering until the last day possible, March 16.

"I had to sit down and ask myself if this is a commitment I could make for four years," said Cole, emphasizing the internal struggle he went through in deciding against re-election. "I waited to the last minute because I have thoroughly enjoyed this position."

In his time on the board, Cole has visited all 48 schools in the area he represents, District E in northwest Las Vegas. Both his sons graduated from Palo Verde High School.

He was originally up against six candidates, who saw him as the weakest link because of his minimal experience, he contended. Cole has the shortest run of any sitting School Board member and didn't have to win an election for his seat. The board selected him in January 2011 to finish the four-year term of Terri Janison, who resigned a month earlier to become the head of the Southern Nevada office for Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Board members appointed Cole because of his business acumen, saying it would help the district navigate an anticipated funding shortfall.

"If we want our desires for our students to be more than wishful thinking, then our handle on our resources has to be absolutely secure," board member Erin Cranor said at the time.

In addition to Cole's withdrawal, two other candidates - Dennis Rich and Anthony Spiegel - have also stepped out of the District E race. A race of seven contenders has quickly dropped to four.

Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at
tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.