Big Decisions Made in Lexington County School Board Elections!
Hey there, Lexington! It was a *big day* for education on Tuesday as voters across four school districts made some crucial choices about their school boards. In Lexington County, there was plenty of excitement in the air as everyone waited to see which candidates would pocket the coveted seats on the school boards of Lexington 1, Lexington 2, Lexington 3, and Lexington 4. Plus, there were also some significant races in Lexington-Richland 5, including a bond referendum. Let’s dive into the numbers!
Lexington 1: Incumbents Hold Strong
Starting off with Lexington 1, located right in the heart of the county, voters had to pick from a pool of nine candidates vying for four board member positions. With a whopping total of 143,000 votes cast, incumbent Kathy Henson emerged victorious, snagging about *15%* of the votes. Next up was former journalist McKenzie Flashnick, who garnered *12%*, followed closely by Nicholas Pizzuti, an employee from the S.C. Department of Transportation, who earned *11%*.
It was a tight race for the fourth slot, with incumbent Mike Anderson holding on with another *11%* and just barely getting ahead of real estate agent Shelton Yonce at *10.13%* and claims adjuster Dana Homesley at *10.1%. *Lexington 1 encompasses a diverse range of areas from the vibrant town of Lexington to the charming spots of Gilbert and Pelion.
Lexington 2: A Close Race in Cayce and West Columbia
Now moving on to Lexington 2, which covers the cities of *Cayce* and *West Columbia*. The *race for four board seats* was equally fierce. As we saw just over a third of the votes counted, Mary Burkett was ahead with *17%*, followed closely by Liz Castles at *15%*. Craig Aull and Tre Bray were neck-and-neck as well, with *14%* and *13%*, respectively! It truly was a competitive showdown.
Lexington 3: A Battle in Batesburg-Leesville
In the Batesburg-Leesville region, the voters had to decide among five candidates for four available spots. With only half of the votes counted, Cynthia Etheredge was leading the charge, taking home an impressive *27%* of the vote! Following closely was Stacey Derrick with *21%* and Craig Caughman at *20%*. The final seat went to Sonya Winstead Cary, who surpassed Burgundy Barr by almost *900 votes*! Talk about a nail-biter!
Lexington 4: New Faces in Gaston and Swansea
Finally, in Lexington 4, covering *Gaston* and *Swansea*, the voters were out in full force. With four seats also available here, Lynn Fallaw led the pack with a solid *22%*, while Sadie Wannamaker grabbed *17%*. Dennis Wilson and Cindy Dibble followed with *16%* and *15%*, respectively. However, it was a sad ending for Tina Brantley, who was just *460 votes short* of snagging that all-important final seat!
Conclusion: What’s Next?
As the dust settles and the new board members prepare to take their seats, it’s an exciting time for Lexington County. With pulse-pounding races across all four districts, the community is eager to see how the elected members will tackle the issues facing our schools. The decisions made here will certainly shape the future of education in our area!
Until next time, Lexington, stay informed and engaged as our local schools continue to thrive and grow!
