story by Rose Ann Pearce
rapearce@thecitywire.com
A light turnout of voters was recorded Tuesday in the annual school elections with only three contested races on ballots in Fayetteville, Rogers and Bentonville. Uncontested races were recorded elsewhere, including Springdale and Siloam Springs, and there were no tax increases on any ballots in the 15 school districts in Washington and Benton Counties.
A three-way race developed in Fayetteville for the Zone 2 seat on the Fayetteville School Board between Phil Jones, a business development consultant; Robert Maranto, a University of Arkansas professor; and businesswoman Jeanne Champagne. They sought the seat held by Bryn Bagwell who opted not to seek re-election to another five-year term.
Maranto outpolled his challengers, recording 397 votes, or 63%, over Jones, with 161 votes, or 25.6%, and Champagne, with 72 votes, or 11%. Maranto attributed his success at the ballot box to a group of about 50 volunteers and a message that Fayetteville should be the best school district in the state and surround states with more focus on academics for the richest and poorest students and those in-between.
Also in Fayetteville, Justin Eichmann was unopposed in his bid for re-election to the Zone 3 seat on the School Board.
In Rogers, Paige Sultemeier handily defeated challenger Dulce Aguirre for the Zone 5 seat held by Jerry Carmichael, who decided not to seek another five-year term after 16 years on the Rogers School Board. Sultemeier had 292 votes, or 89%, to 36, or 11%, for Aguirre
Kristen Cobb, was re-elected to the Zone 3 seat she holds on the Rogers School Board. She was unopposed.
State law allows candidates who are unopposed to be elected to the seats they are seeking on school board with early and absentee votes, thus saving some school districts the cost of holding elections on the designated election day.
The only other contested race was for the Zone 1 seat on the Bentonville School Board. Incumbent Rebecca Powers was celebrating her birthday and enjoying a birthday cake as she awaited results. Powers was easily re-elected with 202 votes, or 82.8%, over challenger Eowyn Francis Moore, with 42 votes, or 17.2%.
“I’m honored and humbled. Constituents want to see the School District continue on the path to excellence,” she said.
Two incumbents were re-elected to the Springdale School Board, running unopposed for their respective seats. Danny Dotson was unopposed for his Zone 5 seat and Mike Luttrell retained his at large, position 1, in early and absentee voting.
In Siloam Springs, Brent Butler, incumbent was elected to the Zone 5 seat on the Siloam Springs School Board.
The results are unofficial until certified by Election Commissions in the two counties. The newly elected board members can be seated on their respective boards after results are certified and the county clerk administers the oath.