Meet the Candidates: Ames School Board Election 2025
Four candidates are vying for four seats on the Ames School Board in the upcoming November election. The election offers an opportunity for voters to shape the future of education in Ames.
Candidates for At-Large Seats
Incumbent Kelly Winfrey, the current Board President, is running for an at-large seat. She is joined by newcomers Arthur Baumgartner and Jennifer Tipton. Voters will be able to select up to three candidates from this group.
Board member Aaron Rodriguez, who was appointed to a vacant seat in late 2024, is also running for an at-large seat. His name will appear as a separate item on the ballot.
Election Details
Polls will be open on Election Day, November 4, 2025, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early voting begins on October 15th and continues through November 3rd. The deadline to request a mailed ballot is October 20th.
Candidate Profiles
Kelly Winfrey
Kelly Winfrey was first elected to the Ames School Board in 2021 and has served as board president since 2024.
Winfrey holds a Ph.D. in communication studies from the University of Kansas. She joined Iowa State University in 2014, where she is currently an assistant professor in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication.
She also teaches in the Leadership Studies program and coordinates research and outreach at the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics.
Arthur Baumgartner
Arthur Baumgartner is running for a seat on the Ames School Board.
Baumgartner earned a bachelor's degree from Grinnell College and a master of architecture from Iowa State University.
He works as a preconstruction manager at Woodruff Construction in Ames. He has previously volunteered with Ames Main Street and the Discover Ames Community Grant Committee.
Jennifer Tipton
Jennifer Tipton is a candidate for the Ames School Board in the upcoming election.
Tipton is originally from Pleasantville and has resided in Ames for nearly six years. She and her husband, Levi, met at Iowa State University over 20 years ago and have two children attending schools within the Ames Community School District.
Jennifer Tipton works in the Dean of Students Office at Iowa State and is also a lecturer in the School of Education.
Aaron Rodriguez
Aaron Rodriguez, an incumbent member, is seeking to retain his seat on the Ames School Board.
Aaron Rodriguez was appointed to the board in December 2024, following William "Scott" Dryer’s departure. He received unanimous approval from the board.
He, his wife, and their four children have called Ames home for the past eight years. Rodriguez is a graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and is employed as an engineer at Danfoss in Ames. He previously served as a PTO president and was a member of the strategic planning committee.
