Two newcomers upended two appointees on the Jessieville School Board in Tuesday's annual school election, according to final, unofficial results.
More than 1,000 ballots were cast in Jessieville alone as Sam Ault and Nicholas Sarver defeated Chris Robertson and Steve Garrett, respectively.
The Position 5 vote was 643-410 in Ault's favor. He held a narrow 37-31 edge after early and absentee voting.
"I was nervous until about 8:30 p.m. last night when some of the folks called in some numbers from the precincts," Ault said. "I really didn't have a clue. This was my first election and all I know is I was nervous."
Ault is a plant manager for C.J. Horner Co. Inc. and a pastor at Oak Hill Missionary Baptist Church. He had previously applied to be appointed to the board.
Ault is a Jessieville graduate and his grandchildren are students in the elementary school. He will serve the remaining four years of the term for Position 5.
"I know the results are unofficial, as of yet, but I feel good about the outcome," Ault said. "I feel like we had an extremely good turnout for this election.
"I am focused on trying to heal this community and move this school forward. I hope that everybody on both sides will come together and do what is best for the kids."
Sarver won the Position 3 seat by a slightly wider margin. He led just 36-31 in early and absentee votes.
Election Day voting finished 606-328 for Sarver, making the overall margin 675-365. Sarver said he was excited and "ready for the task at hand."
"It was a significantly larger turnout than the past couple of school board elections, which shows me that the community really does care and really is concerned with what is going on at the school," Sarver said. "I think it speaks volumes.
"One way or another, I am ready for whatever happens, ready to hopefully heal the community and get the school back on track."
Sarver is self-employed and owns the the Village Shell Service Station. He graduated from Jessieville and his children are enrolled in various levels at the school.
Two years remain on the Position 3 term. He had also applied to be appointed to the Jessieville School Board following the resignation of a previous board member.
Incumbent Debbie Ugbade retained her seat on the Hot Springs School Board. She will serve a fifth consecutive term. She will run again this fall to continue to serve on the Arkansas School Boards Association Board of Directors.
Ugbade was re-elected over Myra Young by a vote of 328-141. Young called Tuesday evening to congratulate Ugbade and pledge her support.
Ugbade retired a year ago from her position as public affairs specialist for the Ouachita National Forest, U.S. Forest Service. She is now an instructor in the Adult Education department at National Park Community College. Her three children are Hot Springs High School graduates.
Karen Reese won election to the board for the first time over Chris Skrivanos. Reese led 111-78 after early and absentee voting, then pulled away 113-69 on election day.
The final unofficial vote was 231-155 for Reese. Sindy Webb retracted her name from consideration early this month, but her name appeared on the ballot. She received 43 total votes, including 20 on election day.
Reese, now retired, was temporarily appointed to the board after the death of her husband, Joe Reese, in March 2013. She was re-appointed to the board after no candidates filed for the seat.
Reese was an instructional aide in local schools for 21 years. Her three children graduated from Hot Springs and she has lived in the district since 1970.
Donald Graves was elected to the Position 2 seat on the Mountain Pine School Board by a 109-35 vote over David Terry. Both candidates were on the ballot for the first time.
Graves is a Mountain Pine alum and now has two sons enrolled in the school. He is an employee by Vickers Pipe & Tank.
Sheila Ford and Greg Frank were unopposed in the election for two seats on the Fountain Lake School District Board of Education. Other unopposed candidates were Eddy Slick at Cutter Morning Star, Vance Dobyns at Lake Hamilton and John Pennington at Lakeside.
Local on 09/18/2014