Old Mill's Nick Lefavor Elected as Next 'SMOB'

Update (1:50 p.m.)—The Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils general assembly voted Old Mill's Nick Lefavor as the next student member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education (SMOB).

It took two votes to determine a winner after the first ballots' results were too close between Lefavor and 's Jake Ritterpusch. In the second vote, Lefavor earned the necessary "50 percent plus one" and was named the next SMOB.

With the win, Lefavor will fill the only student board member position in the country with "full voting rights," ranging from personnel issues to budgets and more, according to Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokesman Bob Mosier. 

The final three candidates for the position were Sean Cooley of , Lefavor and Ritterpusch, but Cooley received too few votes to be on the second voting ballot. 

Lefavor's victory over Ritterpusch was what some called a "surprise" win.

"My concern was that this was a popularity contest atmosphere, but I knew if [the delegates] really heard him, they'd know [Lefavor] was the right choice," said Kate Snyder, Lefavor's adviser and track coach. "He's one of the most amazing students I've ever had."

South River junior Kristina Leone also ran for the position but was unable to make it to the final three. The teen said she was happily surprised that Lefavor won the election.

"If it had to be somebody else [besides me], I'm glad it's him. I'm really, really happy," Leone said. 

Snyder said the Old Mill junior is incredibly well-rounded and "amazing academically." 

Lefavor said he knew the vote was going to be close and that he specifically felt that he needed to stand out during the question and answer portion of the general assembly's gathering Monday at 's auditorium.

"The race was so tight but I felt like I did a good job. I just had to hope for the best," Lefavor said. 

The need for a revote was an usual circumstance, current SMOB Jillian Buck said. 

"It's been a few years since it happened for the SMOB position," Buck said. 

After winning the second vote, Lefavor was flooded and congratulated by his supporters. Then when asked where the moment ranked on his list of high school experiences, Lefavor said, "Absolutely No. 1."