Write-in Dunkle wins seat on Beaufort County school board
Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Terry Thomas received 195 write-in votes in his losing bid for the District 2 seat on the Beaufort County school board, according to certified election results.
Joseph Dunkle has won a battle of write-in candidates for the District 4 seat on the Beaufort County Board of Education, according to unofficial results released Thursday.
Dunkle received 358 votes to Lundy Baker's 111 votes, the Beaufort County Board of Elections and Registration reported. There were 101 other write-in ballots cast in the race during Tuesday's election.
No candidate for the District 4 seat, which represents parts of Port Royal and the city of Beaufort, filed this summer to appear on the ballot, so Baker and Dunkle announced in the fall they would wage write-in campaigns.
Dunkle will replace Jim Beckert, who will become Beaufort County auditor. Beckert ran unopposed for his new post in Tuesday's elections.
Dunkle said he hopes to start his own education by meeting with Beckert and other board members.
"I'm definitely just starting to take it all in and kind of get my feet wet, so to speak," Dunkle said. "I'll meet with the other board members. I just want to be in tune with the issues and what they're talking about."
Dunkle, 27, is the youngest member elected to the board in at least 20 years, according to board executive assistant Robyn Cushingberry. He has two daughters, a fourth-grader at Riverview Charter School and a 4-year-old who will go to Riverview next year.
Beckert will serve through December, and he said he looks forward to helping Dunkle get ready.
"I liked the amount of homework Joseph does in preparing for something," Beckert said. "If he keeps doing that, I am certain that the school board and the constituents of District 4 will be well-served, because he'll be able to ask some meaningful, in-depth questions."
The school board race marked the second unsuccessful write-in campaign for Baker in as many years. He ran for Port Royal Town Council last year. Still, Baker says he plans to make another run for public office in the near future and teases he'll make sure his name is on the ballot next time.
Joseph "deserves it; he worked hard; he knew how to campaign. This was meant to be," Baker said.
The rest of the school board remained unchanged Tuesday, with uncontested incumbents Geri Kinton, Evva Anderson, Michael Rivers, Mary Cordray and Bill Payne all retaining their seats.
Board member Bill Evans of Lady's Island also easily fended off a challenge from write-in Terry Thomas, who received only 195 votes.
The county's Board of Canvassers will meet at 10 a.m. Friday to certify the results at the elections office at 15 John Galt Road in Beaufort.
Follow reporter Zach Murdock at twitter.com/IPBG_Zach.
Related content:
- Beaufort County school board write-in winner to be announced Thursday, election director says, Nov. 5, 2014
- Write-in candidates say county poll workers not providing help promised, Oct. 31, 2014
- 2 write-in candidates vie for Beaufort County school board seat, Oct. 21, 2014
This story was originally published November 6, 2014 at 6:34 PM with the headline "Write-in Dunkle wins seat on Beaufort County school board."