By Tippi Rasp Staff Writer
A little more than 100 votes separated the two Enid school board candidates, while more than 1,600 separated candidates for an Autry Technology Center seat Tuesday.
Molly Helm edged out Abbey Stallings, 1,767 to 1,662, in Office 2 on the Enid Public Schools Board of Education seat.
Helm, marketing director at Autry Tech, said she is anxious to serve. She takes the office during Monday’s school board meeting.
“I’m thrilled the election part is over,” Helm said. “I am very excited and ready to get to work.”
Stallings said she wished Helm luck serving the community and school district.
“I certainly wish Molly congratulations,” Stallings said. She said the close race was good for the community and shows just how important each vote can be.
Stallings, an attorney at Central National Bank, said she learned a lot running for election and is proud of the campaign.
“I learned a ton,” Stallings said. “I had a good time, and I think we ran a good, positive campaign.”
Stallings said she ran for school board because she has a desire to serve and that “desire to serve will never go away.”
Helm said she had received a number of congratulatory phone calls throughout the evening while she was attending an election watch party with Autry Tech incumbent Steve Biddle, who defeated Stephen Glazier, 3,271 to 1,664.
Biddle, who owns four Enid McDonald’s restaurants and one in Alva, said he was overwhelmed by the support.
“I am so thankful for all of the gracious and tremendous support of people who worked on my behalf,” Biddle said. “I’m very grateful.”
Biddle said he almost wishes he had a board meeting right away.
“I’m ready to continue the great things we’ve got going at Autry Tech,” he said.
Area school board seats
Runoff elections will be held for seats on Garber, Covington-Douglas and Medford school boards.
• For the Covington-Douglas board, Connie Schminke McDonald had 136 votes. Janet Murphy had 83 and Nancy Nelson had 62. McDonald and Murphy will square off in an April 3 runoff.
• For the Garber Office 2 seat, Lisa J. Alwert and Travis Schovanec will have a runoff. Alwert had 123 votes, Schovanec had 92 and Christine Vencl had 49.
• In Medford, Joan Kretchmar and Shawn Watson will meet in the runoff. Watson had 166 votes, Kretchmar had 119 and Loren Stout had 70.
Other school board results around the area include:
• In Cherokee, Jim Moncrief won the Office 2 school board seat with 308 votes. Jennifer Roach had 55 and Tony Heller had 39. For Office 1, Amber Kay Wilhite defeated Boyde Highfill, 203 to 198.
• In Drummond, James Wilson defeated Carrie J. Dobrovolny, 119 to 72, for the Office 2 school board seat.
• In Pond Creek-Hunter, Gerald Miller defeated Jeff Scott, 219 to 76.
