Mercer Island board members host candidate information session outlining rules, timeline and duties

Mercer Island School District board members and staff held an informational session for prospective school board candidates that outlined eligibility requirements, campaign disclosure rules, election timing and the work expected of a director.

The session set out the basics prospective candidates must know: candidates must be Washington state residents and registered voters; directors are elected at-large (not by zone); spouses and dependents may not be hired by the district after a candidate is elected; and candidates must file financial-disclosure forms with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) within two weeks of declaring a campaign or beginning to accept campaign donations. Board members said public declarations on social media can constitute an official declaration of…