NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Jodie Benson, to the Ash Fork Joint Unified School District Governing Board. The appointment will be effective October 6, 2020 and will expire on December 31, 2022.  This seat was vacant due to the fact that Board Member Mike Wilson, resigned without offering a reason for his departure. We appreciate the efforts Mr. Wilson put forward in supporting students and the community while a member of the Governing Board.

Mrs. Benson has been a resident of the district for three (3) years. She graduated from Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona. She is married, and the couple have several grown children and another is a Junior within the school district.

Mrs. Benson is employed by Lowry and Associates and Property and Casualty Surveys and provides Insurance and Workman’s Comp Policy Audits. Mr. Carter believes “Mrs. Benson understands the role of the Governing Board and will work to balance the needs of students, parents, staff, and the taxpayer. She appears to relate well to all segments of the community and should work well with her fellow Board Members. She interviewed very well.”

Mr. Carter accepted letters of interest and held an interview of each candidate prior to the appointment. He then spoke individually with each of the elected members of the Governing Board, members of the school staff and administration, and several area residents prior to making the appointment.

It is too early to determine is Mrs. Benson intends to run for this seat in the 2022 election cycle. That process entails pulling a packet, filing a statement of intent to run, being issued a serial number from the Yavapai County Education Service Agency, and circulating petitions prior to being declared a qualified candidate in mid summer.

Mr. Carter may be reached at 928-925-6560 (cell) and Mrs. Benson may be reached at 602-790-3861.