In a key election race this year, the Cumberland County Board of Education saw 15 candidates battling for just six seats. The victors, according to uncertified election results, include Mary Hales, Deanna Turner Jones, Delores Bell, Jackie Warner, Susan Williams and Terra Jordan.
The Board of Education is responsible for the governance of Cumberland County Schools, the public school district. There are nine seats on the board, including six district seats and three at-large members. The six district seats were up for reelection.
Unofficial election results as of 1:30 a.m. Wednesday showed that incumbents Alicia Jones Chisolm, Donna Blackmon Vann and Nathan Warfel will not be serving another term on the Board of Education.
The board members will address a number of pressing issues facing local public schools, including underperformance, absenteeism and a lack of school resource officers.
Here’s who won in each district, and by how much:
Board of Education: District 1
- Mary A. Hales: 36.77% (6,258 votes)
- Alicia Jones Chisolm (incumbent): 34.86% (5,933 votes)
- Kathi Gibson: 27.10% (4,612 votes)
Board of Education: District 2
- Deanna Turner Jones (incumbent): 69.04% (9,499 votes)
- John Lee: 29.41% (4,046 votes)
Board of Education: District 3
Incumbent Carrie Sutton did not seek reelection, so there is no incumbent running in this election.
- Delores T. Bell: 39.52% (7,232 votes)
- Tom Hatch: 37.08% (6,786 votes)
- Bryan Moore: 22.62% (4,139 votes)
Board of Education: District 4
- Jackie Warner: 46.07% (9,201 votes)
- Donna Blackmon Vann (incumbent): 35.67% (7,124 votes)
- Rebecca Pedigo: 16.89% (3,374 votes)
Board of Education: District 5
- Susan Williams (incumbent): 64.31% (16,202 votes)
- Tracy Pelt: 34.52% (8,698 votes)
Board of Education: District 6
- Terra B. Jordan: 55.19% (12,284 votes)
- Nathan Warfel (incumbent): 43.44% (9,668 votes)
