Loveless Ready to Take Incumbent's Seat on District 5 Board

Editor's note: This story has been updated at 4:00 p.m. Nov. 7, to reflect updated totals. 

In the race for three seats on Lexington-Richland 5 school board, voters in Lexington County decided to replace incumbent Jan Hammond with newcomer Jondy Loveless. 

Unofficial results had Loveless ahead of Hammond by more than 1,000 votes.

Loveless said she was excited about serving on the board. 

“I’m just excited. I’m ready to take my new role, and give the best I can give for District 5 and serve the children.”

With 18 of 18 precincts reporting in Lexington County, incumbent Beth Burn Watson received 34 percent (12,666), Loveless received 28 percent (10,548), Hammond received 24 percent (9,037) and Ed Yates received 13 percent (4,941).

Richland County candidates included incumbent Robert Gantt and former River Springs Elementary School principal Melissa Cole. 

Results from 13 of 14 precincts reporting show Gantt winning with 61 percent (9,116). 

Cole received 39 percent (5,823) of the votes counted so far. 

Voters were tasked with electing two members in Lexington County and one member in Richland County. 

Loveless, Burn Watson and Gantt worked as a team to take over Hammond's seat in an effort they say was to stop negativity from some members in the community. 

At times, the board was at odds over the financial budgets of renovations/constructions projects associated with the 2008 bond referendum. 

To see all of the election results, click here to view the Irmo Election Results page.

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