The Gilbert Town Council is wading into school politics as all seven council members have endorsed candidates running for the Gilbert Public Schools governing board.

This is not the first time municipal leaders have supported school-board candidates, but the election is front and center as the GPS board has made headlines this year for often divided decisions.

"I think in previous school-board races, the race itself has not been as heated ... but in my experience, people have endorsed for years," Gilbert Council member Jordan Ray said.

The Town Council is split on whom members have endorsed, but Councilwoman Jenn Daniels said that regardless of who wins in November, the new board must set aside its differences.

School-board members must put some of the negativity behind them and move forward with some real plans and have the ability to execute those plans, Daniels said.

GPS has five candidates running for two open seats in the Nov.4 election.

The candidate with the most Town Council support is Reed Carr, who has been endorsed by Mayor John Lewis, Vice Mayor Eddie Cook, and council members Daniels, Ray and Ben Cooper.

Ray highlighted Carr's experience as a chief financial officer for an investment company as a reason for his endorsement.

"I think one of the biggest challenges facing the Gilbert Public Schools is the budget situation, and I believe that he's the best one to help tackle that to help come up with meaningful solutions," Ray said.

In an op-ed published in today's Gilbert Republic, Carr supporters, led by Lewis, wrote that his "'bridge building' approach will bring calm balance and resolution to these tough conversations."

"The things that caused me to approach Reed is that he is looking from a business perspective of the importance of having a strong school district," Lewis said, adding that "he has great passion because his children have been in our Gilbert Public Schools."

The other candidate who has received council support is Ron Bellus, broadcast director of the Arizona Corporation Commission. Bellus, who's a vocal opponent of the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards, commonly known as Common Core, has been endorsed by the most conservative council members: Cook and Councilmen Victor Petersen and Jared Taylor.

In an op-ed published in today's Gilbert Republic, Taylor wrote that Bellus "is a solid conservative who supports parents having control over the choice of their children's education and he opposes Common Core."

Incumbent candidate Jill Humphreys has not received support from any sitting council members, but she has won endorsements from former Gilbert Mayor Cynthia Dunham and former council members Linda Abbott, Don Skousen and Les Presmyk.

Former council member John Sentz has endorsed candidate Charles Santa Cruz, a retired educator.

Dawn Brimhall, a homemaker, said she has not received any endorsements from the Town Council.