School board candidate could contest narrow loss

A retired teacher who lost Tuesday’s school board election by six votes is contemplating whether to contest the results.

Charles Henry defeated Cheryl Poole 1,307 votes to 1,301 votes in the District 1 runoff, according to unofficial results provided by the Oklahoma County Election Board.

Poole has until 5 p.m. Friday to request a recount. It would cost $600 to do so.

Poole declined to comment Wednesday, but a representative said Poole had not decided whether to file a petition with the election board.

Ed Allen, president of the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers, said the vote was close enough to contest.

The union endorsed Poole.

“We want a system that’s accurate. It would only take four votes to come our way for Cheryl to be the winner,” Allen said. “It’s just too close to not double check.”

Henry expressed confidence in the election process.

“We understand her right to contest it, but we feel confident that the results will be the same,” he said.

Voters on Tuesday filled three school board openings in the Oklahoma City district, including chairman.

Now it will be up to the board to appoint someone to fill the District 4 seat vacated by chair-elect Paula Lewis.

The board, which is expected to declare the seat vacant at the next regular board meeting on April 17, has 60 days to interview candidates and appoint a replacement.

That person would serve the remaining three years of Lewis’ current term. Interest in the position, apparently, is high.

School board member Carrie Coppernoll Jacobs on Wednesday said several people have “already asked me about the seat.”

Jacobs declined to identify any of those people by name.

Lewis, when asked if she had anyone in mind for the District 4 seat said, “No preference; it will be an open process.”

The last time the board filled a vacant seat was July 1, 2014.

Lewis, Henry and District 2 winner Rebecca Budd likely will be sworn in April 17, at the board’s first regular meeting after the election results are certified.

The current board, meanwhile, will meet Thursday night to consider a revised charter school application for Northeast STEM Academy among other items.

At the special meeting, which starts at 5:30 p.m. inside the school district administration building, 900 N Klein, outgoing members Bob Hammack (District 1), Justin Ellis (District 2) and Lynne Hardin (chair) will be recognized for their service.