Three new members of the Albert Lea School Board were elected from a list of 10 candidates Tuesday.

Former Albert Lea wrestling coach Neal Skaar, former board chairman Ken Petersen and special education teacher Angie Hanson were elected to the board.

Candidates not elected were Aaron Phillips, Sonjia Hill, Kendall Langseth, Ellen Kehr, Cynthia Gail, Joseph Ferguson and incumbent Julie Johnson.

Skaar

Skaar was the top vote getter for the board with 5,790 votes, or 20.3 percent.

He called being elected humbling and daunting, and he acknowledged that the confidence that the public invested in him will be tough to live up to.

Skaar said one of his top tasks on the board will be to improve the climate. The district’s perceived negative climate has come under close scrutiny throughout the last year.

“No elected official on the national and local level is going to do that — it is going to start with individuals,” he said.

Skaar called the election bittersweet, adding that he views all board candidates as worthy of election.

“They all deserve to be selected,” he said.

Skaar said he has a lot of homework to do before he assumes his position in January.

Hanson

Hanson was the second-highest vote getter for the board with 4,404 votes, or 15.4 percent.

Hanson said she is grateful for everyone who supported her, and she wants to work with fellow board members and Superintendent Mike Funk to bring positive change to the district.

She congratulated Skaar and other candidates for running and for doing what is best for students.

Petersen

Petersen was the third-highest vote getter for the board with 3,959 votes, or 13.9 percent.

Petersen said he is honored to be elected back on the board, and he is looking forward to serving people.

“I hope that I meet their expectations,” he said, adding that he wants to unite the board and community.

“It’s essential that we move together, forward,” Petersen said.

Candidate vote totals

The vote totals for other candidates are:

• Johnson: 3,564 votes, or 12.5 percent
• Hill: 2,868 votes, or 10 percent
• Phillips: 2,495 votes, or 8.7 percent
• Kehr: 1,953 votes, or 6.8 percent.
• Langseth: 1,573 votes, or 5.5 percent
• Ferguson: 1,145 votes or 4 percent

• Gail: 755 votes, or 2.6 percent

Kehr said Skaar, Hanson and Petersen will make good board members.

“I am pleased with the outcome,” Kehr said.

Phillips said he is not going to stop fighting for the community and its children.

Hill said she appreciated the support.

Johnson, Langseth and Ferguson were unable to be reached as of press time.