Mike Holden announced his candidacy for International Falls School Board Thursday.

Filings for the school board, and other positions to be decided in the November general election, open Tuesday.

Holden said he plans to retire next year from his job as electrician with the city of International Falls. He noted he has worked for 37 years for the city.

Holden said being the son of a teacher has given him insight into the schools. “I watched (my mom) buy winter coats for her students who didn’t have any,” he said in a prepared statement on his candidacy. “I know the teachers in International Falls and I know how hard they work and how much they care. I want to make sure our community values the teachers who provide education to our kids.”

Working for the city has helped him learn a lot about solving problems, especially between employees and city management, he said. “It doesn’t do any good to pound your fist on the table,” stated Holden. “Mostly the way I handle problems is talking one-on-one, whether it is with the mayor or a city councilor or the administrator or one of my union brothers. Mostly we all want the same thing. We want to be treated with respect and to be listened to. I will bring the same approach to the problems at the school district and I want people to call me at home at 283-9383 with concerns, questions or complaints any time so we can talk about them.”

Holden is a master electrician and president of the Koochiching Labor Assembly. According to Holden, he has served as a Bronco kids wrestling coach and was founding board member and former president of the local Little League, serving on the board for 21 years. Holden served as the director of state Little League tournaments, in which he was instrumental in bringing to International Falls in 2005 and 2006. Holden has served as the Veterans of Foreign Wars baseball director, hockey coach for Mites, Squirts, and Pee Wees, and has served on the International Falls Recreation Commission and the St. Thomas Education Commission.

Holden reports that he has been endorsed by the Joint Union County representing the unions in the Boise paper mill and the 49ers Union of Operating Engineers in St Paul.

Holden has been married to Ann for 37 years and has five children, whom he reports have all graduated from Falls High School.