Danville Finally Seats School Board After Mix Up
By: Jocelyn Tovar, KARK 4 NEWS
Updated: September 24, 2012
Monday a special quorum court meeting was called, the first item on the agenda was to fix a problem that started after last weeks school board election.
"Whereas none of the candidates received any votes," read the county secretary, "So none are legally elected to represent their respected zones. "
Each member ran unopposed and in the past that wouldn't be a problem. They would simply be automatically grandfathered onto the board.
"And everybody just assumed that was the way it was," said Yell County Judge Mark Thone.
But the ten year census changed that.
Redistricting made it so that technically there were no incumbents to be grandfathered in.
"One of those quirky deals that just caught everybody off guard," said Judge Thone.
Had just one person voted in the elections this would not have happened.
"Those are the kinds of unfortunate things that happen when people forget to vote," said Michelle Fowler.
Political signs are all over the city and Judge Thone said this was simply a lesson that every election counts.
"Definitely a lesson," he said.
Also a lesson in civic government.
"Spent several days trying to find precedent, trying to find a control to go by but it just didn't exist!" said Thone.
It was only after consulting with countless experts including the state's election commission and education association that it was decided the county's quorum court could step-in.
"It's the first time I think it's every happened," said quorum court member Bood Keathly. "It doesn't, matter it's lunch and it didn't take long."
Saying they were happy to use their own time to make sure the district had its board and its voice.
These appointments however only last a year, so each member will have to run again in September.
"Whereas none of the candidates received any votes," read the county secretary, "So none are legally elected to represent their respected zones. "
Each member ran unopposed and in the past that wouldn't be a problem. They would simply be automatically grandfathered onto the board.
"And everybody just assumed that was the way it was," said Yell County Judge Mark Thone.
But the ten year census changed that.
Redistricting made it so that technically there were no incumbents to be grandfathered in.
"One of those quirky deals that just caught everybody off guard," said Judge Thone.
Had just one person voted in the elections this would not have happened.
"Those are the kinds of unfortunate things that happen when people forget to vote," said Michelle Fowler.
Political signs are all over the city and Judge Thone said this was simply a lesson that every election counts.
"Definitely a lesson," he said.
Also a lesson in civic government.
"Spent several days trying to find precedent, trying to find a control to go by but it just didn't exist!" said Thone.
It was only after consulting with countless experts including the state's election commission and education association that it was decided the county's quorum court could step-in.
"It's the first time I think it's every happened," said quorum court member Bood Keathly. "It doesn't, matter it's lunch and it didn't take long."
Saying they were happy to use their own time to make sure the district had its board and its voice.
These appointments however only last a year, so each member will have to run again in September.
