COPPERAS COVE, Texas (KXXV) — As we approach Election Day, Copperas Cove voters will decide who shares their vision for their local schools and community. For Copperas Cove ISD, School Board Seats 1 and 2 will be on the ballot.

25 News spoke with the candidates running for Place 2: incumbent Ann Davis, who is seeking re-election, and school board candidate Timothy Traeger.

“School board members should be members of your community. They should know what your students need,” Davis said. “They should know what families need. They should have a pulse on what’s going on.”

“It affects everyone involved, especially with the kids, because this is our future,” Traeger said. Our future is children and what better way to take care of children and take care of teachers and staff? It starts at the top, it goes all the way down, and it even starts from the bottom up.”

Both candidates hope to become one of the seven elected members. Their responsibility includes making critical educational decisions, from budgets to policies.

However, their impact reaches far beyond the district and into the community.

“Any crucial or critical decision made as a board here at the administration building affects everybody,” Traeger said.

“It’s kind of a partnership, so they’re essential to everything,” Davis said.

As we approach November 5, both candidates have encouraged voters to head to the polls.

“When you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice, and your vote counts. Each person’s vote lets the whole city know what we want or don’t want,” Davis said.

“They (voters) can say, ‘I was a part of this.’ Let’s say they’re not elected or employed by the district, but I’m part of the community, I can talk about it, and I know people are here to listen,” Traeger said.

School board elections are also on the ballot in several other counties outside of Copperas Cove, including McLennan, Bell, Hill and Falls counties.

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