By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
Due to an error by the Orange County Board of Elections office, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education election this November was until last week incorrectly identified as two separate races.
Four four-year-term seats and one two-year unexpired-term seat – the seat vacated by former board member Joe Green – are available on the board. The board of elections had previously split the seats into two races – one for the four-year-term seats and another for the two-year-term seat. However, under a local bill enacted in 1975, all the seats should be included in one race.
The bill states, “If at any election for members of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education vacancies have occurred and there are both regular four-year terms and two-year unexpired terms to be filled by election, the candidates elected with the greatest numbers of votes shall be elected for regular four-year terms, and the candidates elected with the lowest numbers of votes shall be elected to fill the remainder of the unexpired terms.â€
Incumbent board member Jamezetta Bedford had filed to run for the two-year term, and until last week believed she was running unopposed for that seat. Seven other candidates had filed to run for the four-year-term seats, and Bedford now joins them in the race for either a four- or two-year-term seat.
Bedford said she was surprised, adding that she hadn’t even bought campaign signs.
“I am passionate about education issues and would gladly serve another four years,†she said.
The board of elections became aware of the error when staff members were notified last week by a staff attorney with the General Assembly that the school board race was listed incorrectly on the absentee and sample ballots.
The elections office has corrected the sample ballots, and as of last week had contacted all but two of 20 absentee voters who received incorrect ballots.
On the corrected ballot, voters can select five candidates and the fifth-place winner will serve the two-year term.
“I can assure you we are taking every action to correct this matter and will do anything I can to ensure voters are aware that for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education contest voters have a choice of voting for five candidates whose names will be listed in alphabetical order,†county director of elections Tracey Reams said in an email to candidates.