Only two seats were open.
Since 2022, the board has been a high-profile and contentious focus among residents in the Lakota district, which spans both Liberty and West Chester townships. Much of the dissention has revolved around Boddy, who has another year to serve for her term. Lakota is the eighth-largest district in Ohio, with more than 17,200 students.
Of the candidates running, newcomer Douglas Horton was the most vocal critic of Boddy and current elected officials. The sports marketing leader for Procter & Gamble comfortably won election, beating O’Connor by a ratio of 29-19. Incumbent Julie Shaffer won 34.29% of the vote, according to unofficial results.
Provisional ballots and late-arriving absentee ballots are not included in election night totals, so results will not be certified until Nov. 28.
HAMILTON SCHOOL BOARD
There could be a recount in the race for Hamilton school board to determine who wins the second open seat.
Candidate Joseph Copas was the leading vote-getter Tuesday night, according to unofficial election results. He had 30.46% of the vote. Incumbent school board member ShaQuila Mathews sought a second four-year term, and she led the rest of the candidates by a slim margin, according to unofficial results.
“I continue to lean on my faith and continue to thank God,” Mathews told the Journal-News on Tuesday night. “I know I feel that the work on the board is not finished, and that’s what I lean on.”
Mathews is well known in Hamilton as Pastor Shaq. She received 23.59% of the vote, and newcomer Robin Szary got 23.34%. The two candidates are currently separated by 49 votes, which could automatically trigger a recount. Elections officials say there are unofficially 340 provisional ballots, and they expect more vote-by-mail ballots to come in over the next few days.
At a candidate forum last month, Szary said she planned to advocate for change if elected.
“We have teachers who are very unhappy, especially with moves made. Curriculum needs to change,” she said. “We need to be a voice for the teachers, but not just teachers, but staff, parents, students. They all need someone to be a voice, and I think I’m a good voice for that because I encompass that. I was an educator, I was in instruction, and I’m a parent.”
Copas, who seems to have won handily, said on Tuesday night he will also focus on creating a better environment for staff and students.
The candidates are vying to be a part of a five-member board guiding the near-10,000 student district. Current school board member Steve Isgro did not seek re-election.
MIDDLETOWN SCHOOL BOARD
Political newcomer Holly Snow appeared to get the most votes for Middletown City School District’s Board of Education.
Snow, who has seven children enrolled in the district, said she decided to run for office because she wants to see changes. She wants the students to achieve higher scores on state tests, the district to better manage its finances and reduce bullying and unfair disciplinary actions.
In an interview before the election, she said the district’s performance doesn’t match its “shiny new buildings.”
Snow is a stay-at-home mom who attended the University of Phoenix.
In the school district of around 6,200 students, there were five candidates for three seats. Incumbent Verlena Stewart trails three other candidates, according to unofficial election results, putting her in fourth place and potentially out of a seat on the board. Stewart went to Middletown High School and has lived in the city for more than 50 years. She is known for her volunteer work and her job as executive director of the Community Building Institute, which oversees an after-school program.
She received 20.22% of the vote.
Incumbent board members Chris Urso and Anita Scheibert received 21.72% and 21.41% of the vote, respectively. Urso and Scheibert have both served on the school board for eight years.
TALAWANDA SCHOOL BOARD
Incumbent Kathleen Knight-Abowitz trailed three other candidates in the race for Talawanda’s school board, according to unofficial results on Tuesday night. Knight-Abowitz previously told the Journal-News the race was contested because of financial issues at the district and cuts to busing and other programs.
Six people ran for three seats. Incumbents Chris Otto and Rebecca Howard retained their seats, along with newcomer Dawn King.
MADISON SCHOOL BOARD
There were four candidates running for three seats in Madison Twp. Incumbents Amy Black Jessee and Joseph Solomito retained their spots on the board, according to unofficial election results. Alex Webb received the most votes, at 29.14%
Staff Writers Michael Pitman and Rick McCrabb contributed to this report.
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