Candidates share thoughts following school board election

"I Voted" stickers on the table at the Union County Fairgrounds voting center March 3, 2020. (News-Times file)
"I Voted" stickers on the table at the Union County Fairgrounds voting center March 3, 2020. (News-Times file)

The unofficial results for Tuesday’s school board election in Union County are in.

Early voting was held from May 11 to May 17 at the Clerk’s Office in the Union County Courthouse and Election Day voting for all of the races on the ballot took place at the First Baptist Church of Parkers Chapel.

Polls closed at 7:30 p.m. and preliminary results were announced soon after.

The Parkers Chapel School District held the only two contested races in the election.

In the race for the Parkers Chapel School Board, Position 4 seat, challenger Kristina Madison won out over incumbent Grace Palculict. Palculict received 99 votes to Madison’s 184.

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Kristina Madison (Contributed)

Kris Madison expressed thanks to the Parkers Chapel community following her win and said she is looking forward to getting to work in her new role.

“I think I was in shock at first… This is the first election I’ve been a part of, it’s a new experience. I’m just very thankful and proud of the community for getting out to vote and letting everyone hear their voice,” Madison said.

Several community members, Madison said on Wednesday, have already reached out to express their thoughts on the direction of the school district. For now, however, she is just taking notes and listening until she is sworn in.

“I’m excited for the future and so excited to work with Mr. [incoming Parkers Chapel superintendent John] Gross. I’ve known him for a long time and am just so excited to work with him and other members who have been on it for a long time. I’ve known Lisa Murray for a long time as well, so I’m also excited to work with her,” Madison said.

Madison is a Senior Regional Manager for Walmart US Fuel Operations.

Palculict said on Wednesday that although she would have preferred a different outcome in the election, she remains optimistic about the future of the school district.

“I certainly am disappointed, but I enjoyed working [for] the school and community. I thought it was interesting and I was able to stay more involved than I probably would have otherwise. I have no reason to think Mrs. Madison won’t do a very good job in the position, and I’m sure there will be good stuff coming out of the board next year, as they get past COVID and get back to whatever normal was,” Palculict said.

Palculict concluded by thanking the community for the chance to serve on the school board.

“It was interesting, fun and fulfilling to be a part of things going on [at] that scale in the community… I appreciated the opportunity to put in five years… And who knows, God willing, I may get a chance to try again in a few years,” Palculict said.

Lisa Murray beat incumbent Emily Carelock in the race for the Parkers Chapel School Board, Position 5 seat. Carelock received 86 votes, while Murray received 196.

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Lisa Murray

Murray is an accounting manager and real estate agent who previously served for 15 years on the Parkers Chapel school board.

Murray said in a questionnaire submitted to the News-Times that she chose to run based on her “desire to help children and young adults to become productive and responsible citizens through education.”

Murray and Carelock could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

The remaining candidates from around the county managed to retain their seats.

El Dorado Zone 1 incumbent Wayne C. Gibson was re-elected to his position with two votes; El Dorado Zone 6 incumbent Vicky J. Dobson was re-elected to her position with three votes; and Junction City Zone 4 incumbent Bobby E. Bryan was re-elected to his position with one vote.

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Wayne Gibson waves during the 30th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Sunday. Gibson was presented the Person of the Year Award by the Self Culture Club who sponsors the parade and MLK Banquet.

Gibson said this year marks his 31st on the El Dorado School Board.

“I’m appreciative of being able to continue to serve,” he said. “I believe I’m making a difference; I always try to … make a difference within the school community and the community as a whole as well.”

This August will also mark the 30th year of the annual school supply drive he helped to organize his first year on the El Dorado School Board; he said the supply drive has been a major accomplishment during his tenure.

“It’s a joy to serve, to see the progression of students and to see how this district has progressed over the years, trying to make a difference and doing the best we can for our staff and the administrators,” Gibson said. “I enjoy what I’m doing.”

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Board: The El Dorado School Board, pictured from left to right: Vice President Shaneil “PJ” Yarbrough, Todd Whatley, President Renee Skinner, Past President Susan Turbeville, Wayne Gibson, Vicky Dobson and Keith Smith. Contributed photo

Dobson said she has served on the El Dorado School Board since 2003.

Bryan has been a member of the Junction City School Board for about 11 years, he said.

“I just want to make sure we’ve got somebody who’s got an interest in the school and has the the best interest of the school on the board,” he said.

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The Preston brothers (David left, Cliff center, Hutch right) are passionate about mental health and hope their partnership with local school districts will provide much needed services to students that need it. (Contributed)

Smackover Zone 4 incumbent Cliff Preston ran as a write-in candidate and was re-elected with one vote.

“I’m proud that I am able to continue to serve the students at Smackover/Norphlet,” Preston said in a message to the News-Times. “With all the challenges of the last year and a half, it’s been exciting to see the resilience of so many young people. The teachers, students and faculty have all adapted and powered through to what feels like the possibility of getting back to the normal we remember. All of them make me proud to serve and I’m thankful for the honor.”

Preston said he’s served on the Smackover-Norphlet School Board for six years.

“I will continue to do my best to make decisions that makes them (students, teachers and faculty) the focus as we press forward in what I believe is one of the best districts in south Arkansas,” he said. “Go Bucks!”

The Election Commission will certify the results on Monday, May 24, at 1 p.m. at the courthouse, Commission Chair Cliff Wright said.

Caitlan Butler contributed reporting to this story.

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