By Jason M. White
May 08, 2008 07:37 am
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PENDLETON — More than 24 years of education experience led to Terry Auker’s defeat of a South Madison school board incumbent and another challenger, he said.
He upset board member DeAnn Wehner, one of two incumbents voted off the South Madison Community School Corp. board of trustees. Political newcomer Chris Boots upset incumbent Susan Campbell, who has served on the board for four years.
“I kind of suspected it would be a very close race,” Campbell said. “He’s a very well-known person.”
Winners in Tuesday’s election were as follows:
• Adams Township: Incumbent Richard “Buck” Evans defeated Marilea Wyatt.
• Fall Creek Township: Auker upset Wehner and defeated political newcomer Shane Cline.
• Green Township: Boots upset Campbell.
• At large: Incumbent Amy McGinnis beat political newcomer Quincy Flatford.
Newly-elected members will begin their four-year terms on the school board in July. They will join Michael Gaskill, Patricia Valentine and Jon Trippeer on the seven-member school board.
Adams Township
Evans did not spend a single dollar to campaign or put up any yard signs.
Wyatt had signs across the school district.
This is probably why the race was so close, Evans said.
“Maybe this means that next time I need to go buy some signs,” he said.
His win likely means that voters are satisfied with the job he is doing on the board, and that they recognize his community service efforts, he said.
Evans served on the Adams Township Advisory Board from 1995 to 1996 and served on the South Madison school board from 2002 to 2006.
He was appointed back to the school board in 2007 to fill a vacancy.
Wyatt was not available for comment.
Fall Creek Township
Auker kept a lead over Cline and Wehner throughout the night Tuesday as votes were counted.
“I am very pleased the community has chosen me,” Auker said. “I plan on doing as fine a job as I am capable.”
He said he was not surprised by the outcome, because he campaigned very hard. Also, the community recognized his 24 years of educational experience, he said. Now retired, he was the first principal of East Elementary School.
Wehner was not available for comment.
Cline was not surprised with the results. Auker is a well-known person in the community who served the school district for many years, he said.
Green Township
Boots said he was thankful to the voters who supported him.
“And now I want to serve the community to the best of my ability,” he said.
Campbell was taken aback by the results, but said she believes Boots will do a fine job as a board member. She was expecting a close race, because Boots is well known in the community, she said.
Boots said the following likely helped him win the election: his research into educational issues, business experience and time spent speaking with teachers, support staff and parents.
He plans to continue working with the community to prepare for his four-year term as a board member. As a board member, his top priority is figuring out what to do with the current middle school building.
Boots is president/CEO of Boots Casket Co. and father to four daughters within the school district.
He has served on the school district’s middle school utilization committee and instrumental music task force. This is his first public office.
At large
McGinnis beat Flatford by a wide margin she maintained throughout the night.
“I think this means that people are satisfied with what I’ve been trying to do,” she said.
Also, voters understood that she was running to help children and not because of a particular issue, she said.
Flatford, whose wife is a bus driver in the school district, was critical of issues such as double bus routes and GPS systems installed on school buses. This may have tilted the election against his favor, McGinnis said.
Flatford was not available for comment Tuesday night.
As a re-elected board member, McGinnis’ priorities are seeing the completion of the new middle school, figuring out what to do with the current one and improving safety at the high school.
She also wants to form a talk task force made up of students to get their feedback about issues within the school district.
McGinnis has served on the school board since 2004. She has two children.
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