Three seats on the Pilot Point school board are being vacated by incumbents who are not seeking re-election this year. Of the three seats, only one has a contested race for the May 9 election.

Stay-at-home dad Danny Sullivan will contest department store senior manager Steve Klohn for the Place 5 seat being vacated by Joyce Wood. Both men are first-time candidates.

The two candidates, who each have three children in the district, say district finances are a concern.

Sullivan, 39, said he would like the district to create a long-term plan that examines finances, offers opportunity for teacher retention and lays groundwork for when Pilot Point experiences population growth. Additionally, he said he would like to see the district’s credit rating improve and the Gee School — a vacant facility — sold and revenue from the sale used for student programs.

Sullivan, vice president of the city’s youth sports association, said he wants to represent Pilot Point’s schoolchildren.

“I want to see that the kids of Pilot Point have it better than they’ve ever had,” he said. “I want them to have the tools to get a great education … and the best teachers.”

Klohn, 35, said he would like to bring his leadership abilities and understanding of management and budgets to the board. As a senior manager with JC Penney in its systems engineering department, he said, he works with a multi-million dollar budget.

The district must alter its budget and add checks and balances to become financially sound, he said.

Klohn said he understands how to structure a budget and that he’s confident he could offer helpful opinions and feedback to the board.

“When it comes to budget and financing, there is a need for someone to challenge and question the budgets of the school board,” he said. “If I can think of one reason, that would be the reason I feel I should be voted in.”

Matthew Harmuth will run uncontested for Charles “Rusty” Heitzman’s Place 6 seat, and Dan Flagg is running unopposed for Glen Ray’s Place 7 seat.

Early voting continues through Tuesday. The election is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 9 at the Pilot Point Independent School District Administration Office, 829 S. Harrison St.

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .

STEVE KLOHN

Steve Klohn

Occupation: senior manager for JC Penney

Age: 35

Education: pursuing a bachelor’s degree in applied sciences, University of North Texas, 2008-present; associate’s degree of applied sciences, Grayson County College, 2005; database certification, Southern Methodist University, 2002.

Career: UNIX engineer senior manager for JC Penney, 2008-present (manger since 2000); system administrator for The Software Group, 1998-2000; UNIX hardware install specialist for GTE Government Systems, 1997-1998; U.S. Marine Corps, 1992-1997.

DANNY SULLIVAN

Danny Sullivan

Occupation: stay-at-home dad

Age: 39

Education: Graduated from Valley View High School, 1988.

Career: stay-at-home dad, 2001-present; Wal-Mart Distribution Center, 2000; painter for Peterbilt, Denton, 1998-2000; Johnny’s Cabinet Shop, Pilot Point, 1989-1998.