2025 Candidates for the Board of Education

The following individuals, listed in alphabetical order, are the candidates for the Weld RE-4 School District Board of Education on the November 2025 ballot.

Director District A

  • Christopher Kiraly
  • Raymond Ruth

Director District C

  • Lance Nichols

The Weld RE-4 School District is committed to ensuring everyone feels welcome in our spaces — in person and online. If you require assistance accessing the information contained on this webpage, please contact Nicole Baich at nicole.baich@weldre4.org or 970-686-8011.

Christopher Kiraly

Contact Information

2151 Gather Dr Windsor, CO 80550 970-657-5156 kiralyforweldre4@gmail.com

Biography

Christopher Kiraly is a dedicated parent, community leader, and candidate for the Weld RE-4 School Board. A Windsor resident since 2020, Chris and his wife, Brooke, are raising two young children who attend local schools, making him deeply invested in the district’s future. He currently serves on the Orchard Hill Elementary PTA, the School Accountability Committee, and the District Accountability Committee, where he works to ensure transparency, fiscal responsibility, and strong support for teachers and staff. Chris also brings governance experience from his roles on the RainDance Neighborhood Association Board and RainDance Metro District Board, giving him a broad understanding of how thriving schools strengthen thriving communities. As a full-time parent, Chris is committed to advocating for safe, high-quality education that puts students first.

Notice of Intent

Lance Nichols

Contact Information

38241 County Road 23 Eaton, CO 80615 970-302-6185

Biography

I grew up on my family’s ranch near Flagler, Colorado, and graduated from Flagler High School before earning my welding certification from Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland, KS. I then took a year to lead as the 1992–1993 Colorado State FFA President before continuing my education at Northeastern Junior College (1993–1995) and later transferring to Colorado State University.

At CSU, I met my wife, Adele, a proud Windsor High School graduate who was raised north of Severance. We married in 2000 and made the intentional decision to raise our family in northern Colorado. Rather than returning to my family’s ranch in Flagler, we chose to operate her family’s farm and cattle feeding business, Lind Farms, just north of Severance. Today, I continue to manage our irrigated crop farm alongside my brother-in-law. Our children, Payten and Brayden, are the fourth generation of our family to attend Weld RE-4 schools and graduate from Windsor High School.

In addition to farming, I am a partner in our family-owned business, Nichols Auctioneers, where I work with my dad, John, my brother, Mike, my sister-in-law, Melissa, and Adele. Our kids are also active in the company—helping in the office, working as ringmen, and most recently, with Brayden joining as a bid caller.

I’ve been grateful for opportunities to take on a variety of leadership roles. I was a member of the auditing committee at Faith Church in Windsor and contributed as both a judge and executive committee member for Rockin’ K and Circle A Family Rodeo. I also dedicated fourteen years to the Colorado Auctioneers Association board of directors, holding every officer position, including Treasurer, President, and Chairman of the Board. In 2019, I was honored to be inducted into the Colorado Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame.

Currently, I sit on the boards of the Weld RE-4 Foundation and the Colorado Auctioneers Foundation. Since 2021, I have also served as a member of the Weld RE-4 Board of Education, and in 2023, I was elected President. During this time, our board has advanced a multimillion-dollar bond to relieve overcrowding, enhance safety and security in our buildings and improve facilities, and we selected a new superintendent. In August 2025, I was humbled to receive the Colorado Association of School Boards’ (CASB) McGuffey Award.

Outside of work, Adele and I enjoy spending time with family and friends, discovering new restaurants, traveling, relaxing in the mountains, and cheering on our local sports teams.

Notice of Intent

Raymond Ruth

Contact Information

1993 Cataluna Dr.  Windsor CO 80550 970-415-7387 rayruth@gmail.com

Biography

As a Weld RE-4 School Board Director and Treasurer, Ray Ruth has spent the last three years applying his corporate leadership skills to public service, leading key initiatives that have transformed the district. Appointed in January 2023 and elected in November of the same year, he has been instrumental in several key initiatives. During his tenure, the district has seen the opening of three new schools and significant expansion of two others, positive academic growth, double-digit pay increases for all personnel and key student safety initiatives through the implementation of board policies that truly reflect the values of our community.

A veteran of the United States Air Force and a Colorado native, Ray brings over two decades of results-driven leadership from the diagnostics, life sciences, and water quality industries. This diverse background, combined with his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Business Administration from Regis University, blending a strong technical background with strategic business acumen

His dedication to the community extends beyond the school board; he has also served as a liaison to the Clearview Library District Board, a representative for the Northern Colorado School Districts Workers’ Compensation Self Insurance Pool, and a member of the District's Safety Task Force. In his free time, he has coached youth sports, including soccer, wrestling, and football. He first public service role was as an advisor for Greeley’s Citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee where he worked with City leaders to establish data driven practices to find opportunities for improvement. 

Ray and his wife, Christen, both grew up in Greeley and are proud parents of three daughters. Their two oldest are graduates of Windsor High School, and their youngest has just started her freshman year there, giving Ray a deeply personal connection to the schools and the students he serves. This intimate understanding fuels his commitment to ensuring every child has the same opportunity to succeed.

Notice of Intent