Spencer, Knapp, McCollough win North Putnam board seats

Having enjoyed a far less stressful Election Day, unopposed Putnam County sheriff-elect Jerrod Baugh (left) looks over the shoulder of North Putnam School Board member Ron Spencer as he figures vote totals on his cellphone calculator Tuesday night. With two challengers for his Floyd Township seat, Spencer claimed a third term by a lean 18-vote margin.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Incumbents held off challengers in two races for North Putnam School Board on Tuesday, while one newcomer bested another in a third.

In Floyd Township, it was Ron Spencer retaining his seat by a narrow 18 votes, 1,051-1,033 over Kelly Murphy, with Dale Barnes a distant third with 418 votes.

Meanwhile in Jackson Township, Joanie Knapp gained a second term with a 1,379-1,155 victory of Roger Busch.

In Clinton Township, David McCollough will begin his first term on the board in January after a 1,479-772 win over Anthony Camp.

For Spencer it was a come-from-behind affair, as the numbers showed him trailing Murphy before the final vote center was read.

A switch in how results were read on Tuesday meant that the crowd in attendance heard results from early voting, then each vote center.

The last to be read, Bainbridge, made the difference for Spencer, as he gained 66 more votes at the location to eke out his 18-vote victory.

“With going to the vote centers and basically splitting northern Putnam County to two vote centers, it was a nail-biter,” Spencer said. “I’m just happy that they’ve chosen me to continue to represent the taxpayers, the children and the teachers of northern Putnam County.”

Spencer is now looking toward his third term on the board.

“I look forward to continuing to grow our student base and retain our good teachers and enhance our facilities to draw those students in to North Putnam,” Spencer said. “We’ve got a lot of extracurriculars — athletics, FFA, thespians -- there is an enormous amount of opportunity for students that want to go to North Putnam.

“I’m very proud and honored to be a part of it.”

Assessing her results, Knapp was first of all grateful for the support.

“I’m very excited to begin my second term beginning in January,” the retired teacher told the Banner Graphic. “I’d like to thank everyone for their support and their help through this process. I look forward to helping our students and parents to make North Putnam the best that it can be.”

Knapp is looking forward to continuing to serve her community.

“We do our best to be financially responsible and provide the best education possible for our students,” she said. “I really enjoy working in the community to make NP the best that it can be.”

As a newcomer, McCollough is hopeful he can bring a new perspective to the board.

“I’m extremely grateful for the people in the community. The support was incredible,” he said. “The people in the community are looking for some change and I hope I can help with that.”

Asked more specifically about that change, McCollough did not want to get ahead of himself, acknowledging he will be one board member among seven.

“I’m anxious to get with the other board members and see what we can bring to the table and what changes we can make,” McCollough said. “I’m definitely looking forward to working with the other members of the board and teachers and the administrators to help the North Putnam school system.”

McCollough will replace veteran school board member Travis Lambermont, who did not seek another term.

Taking office on Jan. 1, McCollough (Clinton Township) will join the other six school board members — Spencer (Floyd), Knapp (Jackson), Mark Hoke (at-large), Amber Greene (Franklin Township), Heather Lawson (Monroe) and Eric Oliver (Russell).