Opponents to mask mandates and teaching race theory lead in Kennewick school board race

The two candidates endorsed by the Benton County Republican Party for the Kennewick School Board had strong leads in the ballot count Tuesday night.

Gabe Galbraith, a human resources supervisor at Lourdes Health, received 7,048 votes counted so far, or 61% of votes, compared to Erin Steinert’s 39% with 4,489 votes.

Steiner is an educator and director of the Planetarium & Observatory at Columbia Basin College.

In the other race on the ballot, entrepreneur Micah Valentine had 6,549 votes counted so far, or 57%.

His opponent, attorney Scott E. Rodgers received 4,966 votes or 43%.

There were no incumbents running for election after longtime school board members Dawn Adams and Heather Kintzley did not seek re-election.

Adams decided not to run after serving on the board for 20 years and Kintzley did not file after serving 12 years.

Both Valentine and Galbraith oppose Washington mandates for COVID-19 masks and comprehensive sexual health education taught in schools. Each had opposition to critical race theory on their campaign platforms.

Both also support open union negotiations. And both said they favored teaching core subjects.

This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 8:52 PM.