Bedford school board members retain seats

5/19/2010

TEMPERANCE - Two incumbent Bedford Public School board members have been declared winners in the May 4 election.

Shawna Smith and Tim Brakel received 1,496 and 1,479 votes, respectively, according to official results.

Joe Lambert and Richard Nearhood, who ran for the open seats as write-in candidates, got 798 and 752 votes respectively out of 1,630 write-in ballots cast. They were attempting to stop the board from privatizing union jobs.

Because of write-in candidates, election results were not official until the ballots were reviewed and certified by the Monroe County Board of Canvassers.

Township Clerk Bob Schockman said turnout for the election was light, as about 11 percent of the township's registered voters went to the polls.

"We usually don't have much of a turnout for school elections unless there is a millage proposal on the ballot like we had last year when voters decided a referendum," Mr. Schockman said.