Who will be next School Board member?

By MIKE HALLIDAY

Staff writer

On Monday evening, the four candidates vying to fill the vacancy on the Federal Way School Board will have a chance to explain themselves.

The board will hold a public meeting to interview the candidates, starting at 7 p.m. at the Federal Way Public Schools Educational Service Center at 31405 18th Ave. S. Following a closed-door executive session to discuss the candidates after the interviews, the elected officials are expected to make a decision at the end who will join them as the fifth member.

On Tuesday, during the board’s regular meeting at 7 p.m. at Federal Way City Hall, the newest member will take the oath of office and their chair.

The four candidates are Heidi Gailey, Bob Wheeler, Jim Storvick and Tom Madden.

All but Madden, who was traveling and unavailable for comment, answered questions posed this week by the Mirror to help acquaint them with their prospective constituents. The responses are on page A3 of today’s edition.

Here’s a thumbnail of the applicants:

• Gailey has four children and has been an active volunteer in the Federal Way and Tacoma school districts for 17 years.

• Wheeler is a retired state employee from the ferry system and currently works for a software company. He has two children in the Federal Way district.

• Storvick works for a Seatac bank branch and is a former School Board member. He has an adult son and two small children.

• Madden is the chief executive officer of a consulting firm and has two children enrolled in the district.

Whoever is picked will serve the rest of the term given up by Earl VanDorien Jr. when he resigned in April, then will have to run for election this fall if they want to remain in office.

Staff writer Mike Halliday: 925-5565, mhalliday@fedwaymirror.com

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