Write-in will likely win Ogden School Board seat

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — The race in Ogden City School Board's Precinct 6 appears wide open.

Officially, there are no candidates.

The deadline to file as a candidate was in March, but because nobody did, the space on the ballot for Precinct 6 will be left open for voters to write in their choice. Elections officials say it's unusual to see a blank spot on the ballot.

"It's seldom we have a race where someone doesn't file," said Gloria Berrett, Weber County's elections administrator.

But that doesn't mean nobody wants the job. Incumbent Christina Morales and challenger Jeff Harris both filed as write-in candidates for the position. The write-in deadline was last month.

Morales said she wasn't sure about running for re-election when the spring deadline came up because her father was having health problems. His health has improved and Morales said her family encouraged her to run for another term.

"It kind of takes that long to learn what you need for this position," said Morales, a retired counselor for the state Department of Workforce Services. "I cannot stop using this knowledge. I feel this is the best thing I could do at this time."

Harris supervises security for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Ogden. He has five children who all attended schools in the Ogden City School District.

"I just want to act as a sounding block for folks in my district," Harris said.

Early voting begins Tuesday, two weeks before the general election.