School Board Candidate Suspends Campaign, Teachers Endorse Opponent

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Sarah Lacey is suspending her campaign for the Anne Arundel County school board in District 1.

Lacey confirmed the news to Patch on Thursday.

Lacey said she made this decision because she wasn't endorsed by the teachers union, the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County.

"I have just learned that TAAAC is choosing to endorse another candidate in the District 1 race," Lacey told Patch in a Thursday email. "While I had hoped they would make a different decision, I do not desire to run without their support. Therefore, I am suspending my campaign, effective immediately."

TAAAC endorsed incumbent Gloria Dent in the District 1 race.

TAAAC President Nicole Disney-Bates released this statement Friday, announcing the union's endorsements.

“The slate of candidates endorsed by our union have either proven track records of supporting our educators, students, and public schools or in their current roles align with the direction our union envisions for the future of public education in Anne Arundel County.

“Following the completion of a candidate questionnaire and interview with our members, these candidates have expressed clear support for collective bargaining rights, increased funding for our public schools, investments in all our students, and working with our union.

“The next term of this board of education will likely see challenges to our school libraries, require support for our LGBTQ+ students, and make changes to our school system dictated by the Blueprint For Maryland’s Future. This slate is the best chance for educators and students have, in collaboration with our union, to see AACPS succeed.”

Lacey was also up against challengers Ciera Harlee and Hunter Voss.

District 1 represents northwestern Anne Arundel County. It covers Brooklyn Park, Jessup, Linthicum, Hanover and Severn along with parts of Fort Meade and Glen Burnie. The district includes Arundel Mills Mall, Maryland Live Casino, NSA and BWI Airport.

Lacey served on the Anne Arundel County Council as a Democrat from 2018 to 2022.

Lacey then ran as a Democrat for State Senate in 2022 in District 32. She lost to incumbent Pam Beidle in the primary.

Lacey was born in Texas. She earned a bachelor's in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2002. She later earned her law degree from the Catholic University of America in 2008.

Every county school board seat is up for election this year. The full candidate list is posted here. Voters can see what district they live in by using this search tool.

The school board primary election is on May 14. The top two vote-getters in the primary move onto the Nov. 5 General Election. If there are only one or two candidates in the primary, both automatically advance to the General Election regardless of the primary results.

More information on this year's election is posted here. That website has more details on voter registration, voting locations, early voting, mail-in ballots and dropbox voting.