Local School Board Members Interview Three Candidates
The Jasper County School Board conducted interviews Monday with three candidates to serve as District 5 school board member to replace Lewis Rice who is unable to serve for health reasons. Mr. Rice resigned his post in January.
Board Chairman William Schilling, vice-chair Erin Lynch, members Towonder Dennis and Bubba Wilson interviewed Michelle Coward, Janice Smith, and Dwight Voyles, beginning at 1 p.m. Monday.
Ms. Coward serves on the Washington Park Elementary School School Governance Team. Her family has lived in Jasper County for three years, and she has a son at WPES. Janice Smith was next. She graduated from Jasper County Training School and left the area soon after. She has returned and wants to serve. Lastly, Dwight Voyles was interviewed. Mr. Voyles grew up in Jasper County, and moved to Douglasville after college. After spending 34 years there, he and his wife have returned to Jasper County.
Mr. Schilling explained to each candidate that they will have to run for election at the next general election, sometime next spring. The winner of the election will take office immediately. Then, that person will have to run for election again in 2026 to be on the right rotation.
Mr. Schilling also explained why the board was appointing someone rather than have a special election.
According to Ga. Code 20-2-54.2, 1) “if a local board vacancy occurs more than 90 days prior to the date of a general election preceding the general election at which a successor will be elected to a new full term of office (which is the situation here), then such vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term of office at a special election to be held on the same date as said general election preceding the general election at which a successor will elected to a new full term of office; and in this case the remaining members of the board of education shall, by majority vote, select a qualified person to fill the vacancy until the person elected at the special election takes office”.
So, according to the law, the Board must appoint someone to fill the vacancy until the special election for District 5, which will be held at the next general election at a yet-to-be-determined date in early 2024. The State of Georgia has not set a date for this election (which is a primary), but there has been some discussion about March of 2024 (as well as February, May, and June of 2024).
Assuming the election does take place in March of 20024, then whoever the Board of Education appoints to fill the vacancy (being sworn in on or around April 1) will serve just over 11 months, until the election is decided. After the general election in March of 2024, the winner of the special election for district 5 will take office immediately, and then serve out the remainder of Mr. Rice’s term (almost 3 years) until the end of 2026. At this point the normal order for the District 5 election resumes, along with Ms. Dennis and Mr. Wilson.
