Former Synovus VP Laurie McRae announces school board campaign

With experience as an attorney, financial consultant, children’s advocate and parent, Laurie McRae contends she is the best candidate to represent District 5 on the Muscogee County School Board.

McRae announced her campaign Thursday outside the Columbus Public Library.

“I have the legal and accounting background to analyze budget and employment issues, while I also address these concerns as a parent, as a parent who cares about the impact of board decisions on our children, educators and administrators,” she said in her speech to a few dozen supporters. “For a school system to be its best, parents should be listened to and encouraged to be involved at every level, and it is my desire to be the voice of a parent on our school board.”

The qualifying period for the May 24 nonpartisan election ends at noon Friday. McRae has at least three opponents who have qualified, all of whom also would be new to the school board: Todd Robinson, Pete Taylor and Robert Wadkins. Robinson, a former U.S. Army Ranger, lost the 2014 Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate in a four-way race to Michelle Nunn. Taylor wrote “retired” as his occupation. Wadkins is a laywer in Columbus.

The L-E reported two months ago that District 5 representative Rob Varner, who also chairs the school board, won’t seek re-election to a third four-year term. He is executive vice president of Synovus Securities Inc.

McRae, 42, worked at Synovus for 15 years. She was a vice president and a consultant for financial and estate planning before leaving two years ago to devote more time to her family, she said, although she does part-time contract work in estate planning.

McRae has four children, ages 7-14. Two attend Clubview Elementary School, where she is vice president of the PTA and chaired the silent auction and book fair. Her other children attend Brookstone School and Columbus High School, where she volunteers for a fundraising committee and at the front desk. Her husband, Stephen, is president of McRae Engineering.

“I am at a time in my life, when I have stepped away from my career to put my children and family first,” she said. “Running for the school board is part of my commitment to my children and to the future of Columbus. Our goal should be schools where parents and teachers are empowered to inspire students to achieve. My goal is to give the children of Muscogee County the best education. “

Educated in public schools in Bainbridge, Ga., she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a law degree from the University of Georgia.

Beyond her children’s schools, McRae listed on her resume other forms of community involvement since she moved here 11 years ago:

· Serving on The Methodist Home Board of Trustees.

· Co-chair of the advisory board for Our House at Carpentery’s Way Ranch and Arabella.

· Served on the finance committee at St. Paul United Methodist Church, where she chaired the stewardship campaign for three years, taught Sunday school and volunteers at the Vacation Bible School.

Her father, Sydney Cochran, has served on the Decatur County Board of Education in Bainbridge for 18 years and is the chairman.

“I’ve seen first-hand how meaningful it is to him,” she told the Ledger-Enquirer, “so it’s something I’ve been interested in.”

The L-E asked McRae what issue about the school district most concerns her.

“I really kind of want to go into it with an open mind and be willing to find out what the weaknesses are,” she said. “My children have had a very good experience, but I know that’s not all across the board.”

Asked why her middle-school child attends a private school, McRae said, “We just decided that, in middle school, that’s the best place for her, looking at her strengths and where she could do more sports.”

Jennifer Wellborn, senior family office advisor at Synovus, chairs McRae’s campaign; the treasurer is Meika Hilsman, vice president for finance and administration at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley.

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 3:57 PM with the headline "Former Synovus VP Laurie McRae announces school board campaign."