Howard County voters will have to pick three candidates from a field of six for Howard County Board of Education in November. Patch has posted an informal poll where voters can find more information about each candidate.

Below, we've organized candidate endorsements from leading voices around the community. We'll continue to update this article as more endorsements for candidates are made.

Organizations

Howard County Education Association - Union representing more than 5,000 teachers and school staff in Howard County. The union's president, Paul Lemle, wrote in an email confirming the organization was sticking with the candidates it supported in the primary. "They were the best candidates in the field then, and they remain so. They are all teachers, they oppose Race To The Top, and that is a big part of the reason our educators are so strongly behind them," he wrote.

Endorsements: Jackie Scott, David Gertler and Ann De Lacy

African American Coalition of Howard County - Advocacy group that supports minority candidates and issues throughout the county. The group noted in its endoresment announcement, "AAIHC is, again, making it clear that its main goal is getting minority representation, Black that is, on the School Board. Howard County simply cannot continue mirroring the past, that of having an all-white school board."

Endorsements: Ann De Lacy, Jackie Scott, Janet Siddiqui

Howard County Times/ ExploreHoward.com - Editorial board of Patuxent publishing comanpy, which prints the Howard County Times, Columbia Flier and Laurel Leader, among other community newspapers. The board wrote, "The makeup of a local school board matters everywhere, of course. But nowhere does it matter more than in Howard County, where the high quality of the school system is a source of great pride — the bedrock of the county's reputation as an attractive place to live and raise a family."

Endorsements: David Gertler, Ellen Flynn Giles, Jackie Scott

Individuals

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman: Howard County Executive Ken Ulman wrote in a blog post that he was going to vote for school board candidates Janet Siddiqui, Jackie Scott and Ellen Flynn Giles as part of early voting at the Florence Bain Center.

"I have worked with both Ellen and Janet for a number of years, and I know how committed they are to ensuring our students receive a top-notch education," wrote Ulman on why he made the decision to support those three candidates in a competitive Howard County Board of Education race. "Jackie Scott is a leader who will bring energy and passion to the Board, and I am proud to call her my friend."

Endorsements: Janet Siddiqui, Jackie Scott and Ellen Flynn Giles 

Dennis Lane - Tale of Two Cities Blog - Lane writes about current issues in Columbia and Ellicott City. Lane wrote in his post endorsing the candidates, "I’ll focus my energies on the candidates that I believe will best serve our students, our teachers and those who labor to keep our public school system one of the best in the nation."

Endorsements: David Gertler, Ellen Flynn Giles, Jackie Scott and Janet Siddiqui (he picked four, although voters can only pick three)

Lisa Schlossnagle - Lisa B, Mrs. S - Schlossnagle writes about a variety of issues on her blog including local education. She wrote in a post in March that she wouldn't be endorsing school board candidates, but wouldn't be supporting incumbents—Ellen Flynn Giles and Janet Siddiqui. "I am dissatisfied with both the process and the results of the southeastern elementary school redistricting," wrote Schlossnagle. She added that she was also dissatisfied with the middle school scheduling change.

Tom Coale - HoCo Rising - Coale is a political blogger who focuses on Howard County politics and also serves as a Columbia Association board member. He wrote in a recent post, "The Flier picks Gertler, Giles, Scott for their Board of Education endorsements.  I like that.  Easy to remember.  Easy to say.  Gertler, Giles, Scott." 

Endorsements: David Gertler, Ellen Flynn Giles, Jackie Scott

Bill Woodcock - 53 Beers on Tap - Former Democratic party official, who blogs about Columbia and county issues. Woodcock wrote a glowing endorsement of Giles, "There is not much more I can say about Ellen Giles that I haven't already said in my primary election endorsement of her. To paraphrase the term used to describe James Brown, she is simply the hardest working person in the field, on education issues."

Endorsements: Ellen Flynn Giles, Jackie Scott (Woodcock didn't select a third).

Related Articles

• Poll: Who Do You Support for Board of Education?
• Board of Education Forum LiveBlog
• Howard County BOE Primary Results - Dyer Out
• School Board Challengers Snag Education Association Endorsement
• Online Word Wars Flare Around Candidate De Lacy
• School Board Candidate Offers Homework Help