The St. Paul School Board has narrowed the field of candidates who applied for an open seat on the board. There are now 10 finalists remaining from the 41 who originally applied.
The seat was left vacant when board member Vallay Varro stepped down to head an education non-profit. Board members will appoint someone to fill that seat until this fall's election.
The finalists are:
- Ted Davis, a public relations executive
- Amy Walker Filice, who works for the city of St. Paul's planning and economic development department
- Anne Kelly, the founder of an internet clothing company and a former St. Paul city planner
- Neng Lee, who works for Hmong Interational Academy in Minneapolis
- Tim Lee, who works with AmeriCorps VISTA
- David Martinez, a St. Paul school district employee
- Luis Ortega, a Metropolitan State faculty member and former longtime Minneapolis school district employee
- Dave Pinto, a Ramsey County prosecutor
- Jeff Risberg, who works for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Avi Viswanathan, a 2010 candidate for state house and a former aide to Sen. Al Franken
Two former school board members who applied -- Al Oertwig and William Finney -- did not advance.
The finalists will have a second round of interviews February 2 and the board is expected to make its final choice that night.