MONTE VISTA—Two candidates have qualified to be members of the Monte Vista School Board. Current board members treasurer Elizabeth Conner and secretary Beverly Martinez have decided not to seek re-election leaving two vacant positions.
Only two candidates gathered enough signatures to be candidates for the positions. As a result the 2017 Monte Vista School Board elections were cancelled at the Thursday, Sept. 14 school board meeting. The two candidates, Kurt Holland and Dr. Orlando DeHerrera are considered elected by acclamation and will take the oath of office in November.

Kurt Holland
Holland is a 1984 graduate of Monte Vista High School. He has been a member of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee(CPAC) and the United States Potato Board. Holland decided to run for school board because he is passionate and interested about the students and staff. “I want to do my due diligence to help. I also want to be another voice on the board and share my opinions,” he said.

Dr. Orlando DeHerrera, D.O.
DeHerrera grew up in Conejos County and is a 1982 graduate of Antonito High School. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo) he attended medical school in Kansas City, Mo. He graduated from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1995. DeHerrera practiced medicine in the Valley for five years before moving to Texas for 12. Since 2012 he is back in the Valley and is a local physician for San Luis Valley Health’s Monte Vista clinic. “I have always had a desire to be an active participant in the betterment of my community. All four of my children have attended Monte Vista School District, and I hope during my time on the school board the district will improve and there will be a growth in student success,” said DeHerrera.