Eight people — five challengers and three incumbents — have filed petitions to run for four seats up for grabs on the board of education for Cincinnati Public Schools.

        The Nov. 6 election will determine the balance of power on the board for the next two years. Eight-year board member Lynn Marmer is not running again, citing personal and professional reasons.

        The board shapes and approves decisions that affect CPS' 42,000-plus students — and in large part the future work force of Cincinnati.

        The ballot will be certified Tuesday. Until then, the unofficial candidates are:

        • Melanie Bates, 48, of North Avondale. She is serving her seventh year on the state board of education for District 4 and is executive director of the Hamilton County Democratic Party.

        • Roy McGrath, age unavailable, of Clifton Heights. He is a semi-retired consultant for service organizations. He belongs to the CUF (Clifton Heights-University Heights-Fairview) community council.

        • Ed Rothenberg, 66, of Hyde Park. He is a real estate investor, broker and Realtor. He became a substitute teacher in the spring (Norwood and St. Bernard-Elmwood Place districts) and plans to substitute in CPS. He also publishes a small newspaper, What's Happening in Hyde Park, has written five books and hosts two public-access shows.

        • G.R. ""Sam'' Schloemer, 67, of Springfield Township. He is a retired manufacturer's sales representative and former Oak Hills schools board member.

        • Frederick Suggs, 81, of North Avondale, publisher of NIP Magazine in Cincinnati for 35 years. After he sold it, he started publishing Talk Magazine.

        • Incumbent Catherine Ingram, 49, of Mount Auburn, in her eighth year on the board. She is an independent contractor for consulting and business planning, a full-time professor at Northern Kentucky University College of Education and vice-president of the Great Rivers Girl Scout Council. • Incumbent Harriet Russell, 60, of College Hill, is a retired teacher who taught 30 years in CPS. She is in her eighth year on the CPS board, is president of the Greater Cincinnati School Employees Credit Union, a member of of the executive committee of the Hamilton County Democratic Party and a member of the NAACP and Cincinnati Women's Political Caucus.

        • Incumbent Sally Warner, 49, of Columbia Tusculum, is in her fourth year on the board. She is a business manager for Thomas R. Warner, Architect. She taught one year, tutored for three years and is a founding member of Cincinnati Parents for Public Schools. She is a member of the Cincinnati Women's Political Caucus.

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