Workings of the school board election

The Cabell County School Board election process is a bit complicated. Candidates run from the school system's five districts, but all county voters can choose from among all the candidates -- not just those from their district. Each district does not necessarily have a representative, but no more than two board members can come from the same district.

The two seats are won by the highest overall vote-getters, unless the two-per-district rule comes into play. Then the candidate with the next highest vote total would win. Three of the five school board members are not up for re-election, so one of the spots is already taken in District 2, District 4 and District 5.

That all means:

• Only one of the candidates running from District 2 (Suzanne McGinnis Oxley or Jerry Brewster) can be elected.
• Only one of the candidates running from District 4 (Ted Barr, Nancy Newfeld or Garland Parsons) can be elected.
• Both of the candidates from District 3 (Albert Clark and Larry Carrico) could be elected if they are the top two vote-getters.
• Only one candidate (George Watson) is running from District 5.

Current board members Bennie Thomas from District 2, Greg Borowski from District 4 and Bessie Holley from District 5 all have two more years on their terms.