MUSD governing board tabs Owens as VP

The Maricopa Unified School District governing board selected former president Ben Owens as its new vice president Wednesday evening, replacing Jim Jordan. Jordan passed away Feb. 15. 

Owens will hold the seat until Jordan’s term expires in January. Pinal County Schools currently is in the interviewing and vetting process to select Jordan’s replacement. 

Board president Robert Downey polled the board as to who would be interested in the position and both Owens and Torri Anderson said they would accept the position if nominated. AnnaMarie Knorr declined. 

“At this time, I’m not interested in serving as vice president,” Knorr said. “I’ve said a million times I think we’re all equals up here, and I served three years as vice president and three years as president. That’s more than half the time I’ve been on the board, so I kind of like sitting over here and just being a board member for now.” 

Knorr nominated Owens, who had served as board president in 2021, and he was elected by a 4-0 vote.