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Incumbents keep positions in school board elections
After the bustle that accompanied the 2018 midterm elections, both the North Putnam and South Putnam School Boards will have familiar faces at their monthly meetings.
In one of two races in Bainbridge, Travis Lambermont was reelected to represent Clinton Township on the North Putnam Board. He beat out challenger Brad Nelson with just over 52 percent of the vote, with 1,314 votes to Nelson’s 1197. More than 2,500 cast their ballots in this race.
Nelson could not be reached by the Banner Graphic after the results came in. Lambermont was present at the Putnam County Courthouse when the votes came through, but could not provide a statement due to a family emergency.
Lambermont has served on the North Putnam School Board since he was elected to his seat in 2010.
There was a larger race for the seat representing Floyd Township. At the end of the night, Ron Spencer found that he will retain his position on the board, which he has held since 2014. Spencer also currently serves as president of the School Board.
Spencer beat out challengers Jeff Barber and Shiloh Worth of Coatesville with just over 48 percent of the vote with 1,346 votes. Barber had 992 votes, while Worth gained 448 in his favor. Over 2,700 people in total voted in this race.
“I think we had a great turnout, and I appreciate my opponents like Shiloh and Jeff for running and wanting to be involved,” Spencer said after the results were read. “We’re doing great things at North Putnam, and I feel honored to continue to serve on the board the next four years.”
In a statement to the Banner Graphic afterward, Jeff Barber was thankful for the support, commenting that a lack of negativity in the race was refreshing.
“I just want to thank all of the voters for coming out, as well as my family for supporting me as I went through this process,” he said. “All the candidates brought something different to the race, and I want to congratulate Ron and say that he has been doing a great job.”
Shiloh Worth did not have the result he was looking for, but was happy that Spencer was chosen.
“Obviously I’m disappointed, but Ron is a fine man who has done a good job, and I just want to thank everyone coming out to vote, as well as those who supported me in this.”
Joan Knapp was elected to the North Putnam School Board to represent Jackson Township after running unopposed. The seat is currently held by John Hays, who will retire at the end of the year.
The South Putnam School Board saw an interesting race for the seat representing Jefferson Township between incumbent Wesley Hacker and Joseph Roach, both of Cloverdale.
Hacker won over 62 percent of the total vote with 1,267 in his favor. Roach gained 769 of the approximately 2,000 total votes in the race.
“I’d like to thank all of my supporters for allowing me to represent them on the board the next four years,” Hacker said in a short but direct statement." We will continue to operate within our budget, provide innovative learning to our students, while being able to maintain our facilities.”
Hacker also related that he and the board as a whole were ready to meet future challenges.
“As a board, we are always ready to discuss issues with anyone who wants to talk to us, and we are willing to listen.”
Hacker has also served as the president of the South Putnam School Board, and will do so until the end of the year.
In a statement he provided to the Banner Graphic after the election, Roach expressed that differences should be put aside to help make South Putnam Schools the best it can be.
“We have a great school system with awesome students and dedicated teachers,” Roach provided, “and we need to pull together and focus on growth and sustainability at South Putnam.”
Craig Newby retained his position representing Warren Township on the South Putnam School Board after running unchallenged in the election. He received 1,796 total votes.
Vivian Whitaker was also reelected to the Cloverdale School Board representing Cloverdale Township. Whitaker received 971 votes in Cloverdale Township, however the total votes from the Owen County townships were unavailable at press time.