By Cathy Spaulding
Shawn Kuykendall defeated incumbent Hilldale Board of Education member Eldon Schoonover by taking more than 90 percent of the vote Tuesday night.
However, Kuykendall didn’t have the night’s biggest margin of victory. In the Cherokee County dependent school district of Woodall, David Sevier defeated Jeremy L. Hitchcock by taking 98.41 percent of the vote. One person voted for Hitchcock.
Meanwhile, Muriel Saunders was re-elected to a fourth term on the Muskogee Board of Education.
Kuykendall, a 1994 graduate of Hilldale High School received 686 votes, or 91.59 percent. Schoonover received 68 votes, or 8.41 percent.
Neither man could be reached for comment. There was a Hilldale home basketball game Tuesday night.
Kuykendall, a carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, had said he ran because he saw a need to update facilities and improve computer labs. Kuykendall had said the school administration needs to be held more accountable to patrons.
In Muskogee, Saunders received 388 votes, or 63.61 percent to Bonney’s 222 votes or 36.39 percent.
Saunders had said she wants to continue to be part of positive changes being made at Muskogee Public Schools.
Bonney said after the election that he wishes Saunders “the best.”
“I hope she will do everything possible to make improvements to the schools and increase her attendance at board meetings.”
He said he was shocked at the low turnout in Muskogee.
In the Shady Grove school board race, Bryan Arnall and Elizabeth Colvin tied with 31 votes each. Theresa Alberty with the Cherokee County Election Board said one provisional vote might need to be counted. Otherwise, a special board meeting might need to be held, she said.
There will be a run-off for Braggs, place 4, board of education between Barbara Baskins and Elva Irving.
In the Grandview school board, place 3, Summer Connor Hogshooter will be in a runoff with Marty A. Kimble.
Runoff elections will be April 7.
Other winners included Marvin “Crawdad” Morgan, Wagoner Board of Education; Craig Coppin, Porum; Charles Thompson, Hulbert Board of Education and Jay Myres, Briggs Board of Education.
Area board of education races
• Muskogee, place 4: Muriel Saunders, 388, or 63.61 percent; Mark Bonney, 222, or 36.39 percent.
• Hilldale, place 4: Shawn Kuykendall, 686, or 91.59 percent; Eldon Schoonover, 63, or 8.41 percent.
• Braggs, place 4, Ronnie White, 66, or 24.44 percent; Barbara Baskins, 120, or 44.44 percent; Elva Irving, 84, or 31.11 percent.
• Porum, place 4: Craig Coppin, 108, or 60.34 percent; Jeaninne Swafford, 9, or 5.03 percent; Lisa Harris, 62, or 34.64 percent.
• Wagoner, place 4: Marvin “Crawdad” Morgan, 571, or 76.95 percent; Karen Hughes Mauldin, 171, or 23.05 percent.
• Briggs place 2: Sarah Jones, 37 or 27.82 percent; Jay Myres 86, or 64.66 percent; Phyllis Wheeler, 10, or 7.52 percent.
• Grandview, place 3: Summer Connor Hogshooter, 63, or 41.45 percent; Marty A. Kimble, 65, or 42.76 percent; Kerry D. Day, 24, or 15.79 percent.
• Hulbert, place 4: Nancy Keys, 35, or 35.35 percent; Charles Thompson 64, or 64.65 percent.
• Woodall: David Sevier, 62, or 98.41 percent; Jeremy L. Hitchcock, 1, or 1.59 percent.
• Shady Grove: Bryan Arnall and Elizabeth Colvin, 31 votes and 50 percent each.
• Tahlequah, Police Chief: Steve Farmer, 824, or 49.55 percent; Steve Hamby, 105, or 6.31 percent; Clay Mahaney, 734, or 44.14 percent.
