State nullifies Schroon school election

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July 9, 2008

<a href="mailto:lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com">By LOHR McKINSTRY</a> The Press Republican Wed Jul 09, 2008, 05:18 PM EDT

SCHROON LAKE — The last Schroon Lake Central School Board election has been nullified by the State Department of Education.

The May 20 election put challenger Tina Armstrong on the board with 152 votes, defeating candidate Shawn Baker with 106 and incumbent Bruce Murdock with 48.

But 135 voters pulled a lever with no name next to it, miscasting those votes.

The School Board voted to request that Education Commissioner Richard Mills annul the election and order a new vote by the qualified voters of the district.

Mills has now done so, and a new vote for Armstrong, Baker and Murdock will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, in the school lobby.

Armstrong has already taken her seat on the School Board and will serve until this special election.

Board Vice President Ellen Garland said all School Board members agreed to ask the commissioner to intervene.

“I would like to share with the community we are aware that there are concerns regarding the process concerning the board seat.”

The person elected will serve a five-year term.

At its organizational meeting Tuesday night, the School Board elected John Armstrong (not related to Tina) as president and re-elected Garland as vice president.

Murdock had been board president.

The Sept. 4 revote is open to all eligible voters of the Schroon Lake Central School District, not just those who voted last time.

Superintendent Michael Bonnewell said anyone with questions or who wishes to request an absentee ballot can contact the district clerk, Lisa DeZalia, at 532-7164, ext. 12.

E-mail Lohr McKinstry at:

lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com