Among the six candidates for New Hanover County School Board Stephanie Walker, Hugh McManus, and Stephanie Kraybill have all won seats. WHQR reports this flips the Board to Democratic control.
Walker received the highest number of votes, followed by Kraybill and McManus. The seven-member board now has a make-up of 5 Democrats and 2 Republicans.
Walker says her priority is regaining the public’s trust after several cases of school staff sexually abusing students: “I really hope going forward that we can hold meetings that are more transparent, that we can keep in touch with the public because they’re the ones who elected us, and that we can really focus on keeping our children safe.”
Hugh McManus has focused his campaign on two issues. One is ensuring all graduating students are employable and the other, to “reduce this devastating learning gap in the lower socioeconomic communities. We’re going to lose a tremendous amount of kids if we don’t.”
But there’s another twist to this race, as current member Bill Rivenbark won a seat on the County Commission. That means the New Hanover County GOP will nominate his replacement, which will then be voted on by the Board.
Republican Board Members Lisa Estep, Jeannette Nichols, and David Wortman will step down on December 8th, and the newest members will swear in then.