Several candidates running for the Orange County Board of Education were neck-and-neck Tuesday night, with the race not being called until 100 percent of the precincts reported results.

Bonnie Hauser, Jennifer Moore and Carrie Doyle won the tight race, with just more than 250 votes separating the three. LaTarndra Strong, who finished in fourth, trailed Doyle by just 154 votes.

In a conversation with Chapelboro following the election, Doyle said she is grateful for all the support she received during this close race, including from her friend and fellow candidate Strong.

“I will miss getting to have my friend LaTarndra on the board,” Doyle said over the phone. “She was a great candidate and I congratulate Bonnie and Jennifer. I’m grateful for every person who pitched in this campaign because every vote absolutely mattered and it just was a super close race.”

Doyle said she believes she is coming into this role with a lot of objectivity and is excited to play a bigger role in the community.

“I’m looking forward to working hard and I’m looking forward to getting to know more parents and more teachers and more community members,” she said, “and just being part of the broad, on-going conversation that we have in our school community.”

Tony McKnight, who was the lone incumbent candidate running in the school board race, finished fifth with more than 12 percent of the vote. Jennie McCray finished in sixth with around 11 percent of the vote.

Moore said following the election results she is excited and overwhelmed now that her campaign has come to a close.

“This campaign has been a journey, it’s been a process and I’m just ready for the work in November to come,” Moore said.

With itbeing such a close race between so many qualified candidates, Moore said she wanted to make sure the public knew advocating for students, their families and the community is a top priority.

“I hope to work together in a collaborative manner with the Orange County School Board so that we can bring forth some positive change and move forward as a school district,” Moore said.

The two other available seats on the school board besides McKnight’s belonged to Dr. Stephen Halkiotis and Matthew Roberts. The pair chose not to file for re-election, meaning their terms will end in June.

For full election coverage on the other local elections, as well as state races and the 2020 Democratic primary for the presidential nomination, visit the Chapelboro elections page.

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