WYNNE — Stacie Caldwell Schlenker has been re-elected to the Zone 3 seat on the Wynne School Board.
Schlenker, who currently serves as Wynne School Board president, led a three-candidate race for the seat during the primary election last month but was forced into a run-off with Emily Watts. That run-off was held Tuesday with Schlenker garnering 55% of the vote to Watts’ 45%. The official vote count (with one provisional remaining) was 262 for Schlenker and 215 for Watts.
“I just want to say thank you to all the people who have supported me for many, many years,” Schlenker said. “I know it’s not easy to get out and vote when it’s the only thing on the ballot. I know it’s a hassle. I really appreciate the people who voted not once, but twice and showed their support for me and for our board, and I just really appreciate it.”
Schlenker said the tornado last March changed her mindset about running for re-election.
“That was the main reason I ran,” she said. “Since day one of the tornado, I have spent countless hours in meetings with FEMA, our insurance, with the State Board of Education. I just felt like I was the best person to be on the board and continue the work that I had started with Dr. Moore [Wynne Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Moore] and the rest of the board and our administrators, just to stay on and see that project finished.”
In a post, Watts congratulated Schlenker on her victory and thanked the supporters she received during the election.
“So many of you put your faith in me, and I hope that I didn’t let you down,” Watts wrote. “You will never know what it means to me that so many of you took time out of your day to speak to me, called others on my behalf, donated money to my campaign, and voted for me… twice.
“I lost this race, but I am not going anywhere,” the post concludes. “Wynne is my home, my place of business, and where I am raising my family. I will continue to seek ways to serve this community and jump in where needed. This isn’t an end – I am just getting started.”
In the night’s other run-off, Jessie McGruder won the Democratic nomination for the Arkansas State House of Representatives from District 35 with 429 votes or 59% to Raymond Whiteside’s 296 votes or 41%. District 35 includes western Crittenden County and eastern Cross County, including Parkin.
