Striebinger wins northern Beaufort County school board seat

A Beaufort County parent and retired financial manager elected to the school board Tuesday night says his generous win is a sign that critics of the board and superintendent far outnumber their supporters.

David Striebinger was elected to fill the District 2 seat vacated by former board chairman Bill Evans in October, representing portions of Beaufort, Burton, Lady's Island and St. Helena Island. With 16 of 18 precincts reporting, he won 541 of the 826 votes -- 65.5 percent compared to the 34.5 percent snagged by his opponent, retired educator Rebecca Cooper.

"I'm certainly glad that I won," he said. "The margin, I think, indicates the people want me to stick to the positions I've already put out, and that's what I plan to do."

"We need to get the superintendent under control; we really need to push back hard on the (proposed 1 percent) sales tax, all the things I've spoken about."

Only 7 percent of the district's 11,897 registered voters cast ballots in the special election, something Striebinger lamented, as he had hoped a larger turnout would send a more serious message to the board.

He has been outspoken about his frustrations with the board and Superintendent Jeff Moss since the beginning of the district's nepotism scandal at the start of the school year.

It was because Moss changed the district's nepotism rule and recommended the hiring of his own wife that Striebinger decided to run for school board once Evans stepped down, hoping his departure would clear a dark cloud from the district.

Though the nepotism issue was settled Tuesday night with the passage of a district nepotism policy, Striebinger said there's still much to be done to address the board's dysfunction.

"If you're approached with logic and calmness to try to get emotion out of the situation, it's surprising sometimes how people come together," he said. "I'm not sure that can happen on the board but that's what I'm going to try to do."

One voter Tuesday, Beecher Hoogenboom of Beaufort, preferred not to name the candidate he voted for but said his disappointment in the superintendent had pushed him to vote.

He was critical of Moss' role in the nepotism controversy and said that, if Striebinger was elected, it would suggest a majority of the public was too.

"I see it helping us follow the rules as they should be designed," he said.

Reached early Tuesday, Evans also declined to say who he voted for, though he said both candidates would be strong additions to the school board.

Striebinger has more than 30 years of experience in contract development and financial and compliance management, something Evans said a board could benefit from.

However, the former chairman, who sat down to lunch with each candidate twice said Cooper's resume would have better replicated Evans' own experience.

Cooper has previously served as a teacher and administrator in Chatham County schools and an assistant superintendent in Brunswick, Ga.

"Selfishly, I would say if she won, she would more closely fill my vacancy, but then of course there's people who are probably very happy that I left," Evans said. "They're both quality people who are committed to doing a good job on the board."

Evans also said Striebinger's election may signal ongoing displeasure in the direction of the school board.

However, he cautioned anyone from trying to create a sea change on their own when joining a public body.

"Anybody who comes on the board as an individual with an agenda -- 'When I come on the board, I'll be able to do this,' -- you can't," Evans said. "There's 11 of you. You've got to find at least five other people who want to do what you want to do.

"The system works in that regard."

Striebinger said he plans to attend the board's work sessions Friday and Saturday, where he will be sworn in.

The results of Tuesday's election are unofficial until 10 a.m. Thursday, when they will be certified by the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections.

Follow reporter Rebecca Lurye on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Rebecca.

Related content:

• Special election: Where do the school board candidates stand? January 30, 2016
• 1 of 2 Beaufort County school board candidates stands with 3 members against Moss review, December 3, 2015

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 3:48 PM with the headline "Striebinger wins northern Beaufort County school board seat."