4 Elected to Lexington One School Board

Two incumbents and two newcomers will fill four seats on the Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees, according to preliminary results from the Lexington County Election Commission.

Voters re-elected incumbents Cynthia Smith and Edwin Harmon, and chose Jean Haggard and Brent Powers to serve on the board for the first time.

Smith, who has served on the board since 2000, had the highest number of votes at 15 percent with about 96 percent of precincts reporting. Harmon had the second-highest number of votes at about 13.2 percent.

Most of the outstanding votes were absentee ballots, which were still being counted after midnight.

"I'm just real pleased that the voters of Lexington One recognize the direction that our district is heading into and they want to continue in that direction," Smith said. "The four people who were elected are true advocates for children." 

Powers, a physician and father of Rocky Creek Elementary students, said he's looking forward to serving on the board.

"As a husband, a father and as a member of our community, it will be a privilege and honor to serve as a school board trustees for Lexington District One," Powers said. "I will endeavor to shape policies that will enable our students to become working and productive members of our community."

Haggard, a former principal at Pelion High School, said that her main goal will be to help students move on to the next step after they graduate. 

"I'm excited about being on the board," Haggard said, "especially working with (the other board members) to bring a quality education to our students." 

Haggard and Powers are replacing retiring board members Secretary Albert J. Dooley Jr. and D.F. Shumpert III. 

School board members serve four-year terms on the seven-person board.

A total of 12 candidates ran for the four at-large seats.

For complete election results, see the Lexington Election Results page.