Now the races begin.

With the start of Candidate Filing Week on May 11, candidates filed for a variety of public offices, including the Bainbridge Island School District and the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District.

Filing Week ends Friday, May 15.

Three slots are open on the school board for districts one, three and four. Two of the filing candidates are already board members: Board President Mev Hoberg (District 3) and Director Tim Kinkead (District 4).

The only new face filing so far is Lynn Smith for District 1.

Smith 49, is a Bainbridge Island graphic designer and longtime community and education volunteer.

Her husband, Darren, is a senior manager of implementation with Pontoon. Her children Meghan, 16, and Austin, 12, are both students in the Bainbridge Island School District.

A native of Sacramento, California, Smith is a graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science.

Her experience includes serving as parent teacher organization  president for Odyssey Multiage Program and currently as president of the Bainbridge Island Parent Teacher Organization Coordinating Committee. She also served as fundraising chair at Bainbridge Cooperative Nursery School and is board president for Ovation! Performing Arts Northwest.

As someone who has spent years participating in school board meetings and committees, Smith said she would bring a new perspective to school board discussions.

Equity among the schools is a top priority, she said.

“I realize that each school has their own personality but they all need the same access to equipment and programs to ensure that each child has the same opportunity to find their passion and expand their mind,” Smith said.

She said she is eager to improve upon “our already incredible district by being more innovative in our problem-solving and more forward thinking in how we view and create our learning environment.”

Smith also noted she understands that there are many moving pieces that make up the district, and each of those pieces plays an integral part of the district as a whole.

Something that seem extremely simple in theory may be impossible due to budget, union or equity restrictions, she said.

“I’d love to find ways to complete the puzzle in new ways that benefit our students,” Smith said.

Two candidates are hoping for re-election on the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District board.

Ken DeWitt, a current board member, is running for another six-year terms for Position 2.

Newcomer John Grinter also filed to run for the same position on Monday afternoon.

Jay Kinney, a current board member, is running for Position 4, which also carries a six-year term.