W. Va. — A WVU professor of child development and family studies was the top vote-getter in Tuesday night’s primary race for Monongalia County Board of Education.
Political newcomer Sara Anderson, running in the Central District, netted 7,804 votes in the contest, and will serve with longtime incumbent Mike Kelly, who was re-elected to his Western District seat with 5,568 votes.
The pair will be joined by first-time candidate Melanie Baker Rogers, who brought in 5,081 votes in her campaign.
Rogers, a counselor who often sees young people in her practice, also ran from the Western District.
Besides Kelly’s bid for re-election, two other seats on the five-member board became open after Barbara Parsons and Clarence Harvey decided to retire from their seats.
Their departures are coming with the retirement of Monongalia Schools Superintendent Frank Devono, who is stepping down at the end of June.
“I ran because I wanted to keep a sense of continuity on the board,” said Kelly, a local businessman who was educated in Monongalia County schools.
The board, he said, has challenges in the days ahead as it works to find Devono’s replacement.
He said he appreciates the voters for putting their confidence in him.
“We’ve done some positive, progressive things,” he said. “Now, we just have to keep it going. That individual vote is a thing to be treasured, and I’m going to keep working hard.”
Anderson quickly surged to the head of the pack as the early numbers began coming in from the county’s 41 precincts.
Those results are as yet unofficial.
Meanwhile, the professor, whose two young daughters attend schools here, said she was anxious to get started.
“This is my passion,” Anderson said.
“In the morning, I put my kids on the bus. I meet with their teachers. I do my research at WVU. I’m so very thankful to the voters of Monongalia County for this opportunity.”
Trailing in fourth-place was Ethan Moore, a Western District candidate, with 4,108 votes.
Matthew Kirby and Gary Drvar finished with 3,449 and 2,705 votes, respectively.
