JCPS Board chooses local criminal defense attorney to fill vacant seat

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Almost half of the decision-makers for Kentucky's largest school district will be new after this November's election.

Tuesday evening during its regular meeting, the Jefferson County Board of Education appointed Tricia Lister to fill a vacant seat on the board.

Lister was appointed to serve until November, but will likely hold the seat for four years as she seeks the seat's full-term. Before applying for the vacancy, Lister filed to run for the seat this election cycle. The District 2 race is now uncontested after her opponent, Abby Berthold, dropped out of the race earlier this month.

"I will be taking this position in January," she said Tuesday. "So why not get started now?"

Lister, a criminal defense attorney, now represents District 2 on the board that oversees Jefferson County Public Schools. The district encompasses most of the Highlands and the St. Matthews area.

She was chosen from a list of three candidates and will fill the seat previously held by former board member Chris Kolb.

Kolb announced his decision to step down from the board in July to apply for a teaching position at JCPS. Kolb told WDRB he is now a social studies teacher at Shawnee High School. By law, the board is required to fill a vacant space within 60 days.

"I really believe in public education, I think it ought to be the only education game in town," said Lister.

She's one of four new possible faces on the board. Four seats are up for election in November — Districts 1, 2, 4 and 7.

Incumbent board members Joe Marshall of District 4 and Sarah McIntosh of District 7 are not running for reelection.

Gail Logan Strange of District 1 is the only incumbent member seeking election, facing one challenger in Mark Gatton. Strange was appointed last December to fill the District 1 seat following the resignation of board chair Diane Porter. She was appointed to finish out the remainder of Porter's term and said she would run this November for the seat.

WDRB connected with all seven JCBE candidates after they filed to run. You can read a breakdown on each of them, and their thoughts on issues such as school choice, by clicking here.

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