PW voters head to polls Tuesday to decide seats

Results of school election will be announced at Palestine City Hall

Election officials are ready to open polls Tuesday morning in the school election that will decide four seats on the PalestineWheatley School Board.

Early voting began Tuesday and ended at 4:30 this afternoon at Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Palestine. As of press time, 192 votes had already been cast in the election.

There are 1,107 registered voters in the school district, according to the St. Francis County Clerk’s office.

St. Francis County Election Commission Chairman Chris Oswalt said early voting has gone smoothly, with only a few minor glitches over the past week.

“The people at Palestine have been very welcoming to us,” said Oswalt of the early voting period. “A few people have brought lunch by for our poll workers and they’ve all made sure our poll workers have had everything they needed.”

There will be two polling sites open in the school district on Tuesday, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church will be the site for voters living in the Palestine zones. The Wheatley Civic Center will also be open for voters to cast ballots, although none of the contested races affect the Wheatley zones. The district is not seeking a change in its millage rate.

The four contested races are for seats in Zones 3, 4, 5 and 7.

Zone 3 has three people vying for the position where incumbent Vernon Thweatt faces opposition from Hazel Irene Rainey Fingers and David Joseph Hooker. Zone 4 incumbent Kenny Jared Parker is opposed in his reelection bid by Beverly Crider Bass. Zone 5 incumbent Derrick Boileau faces opposition from Adam Douglas, and in Zone 6, incumbent James McCoy is opposed by Tameka Anderson.

Election commissioners will begin canvassing absentee ballots at 5:30 p.m., on Tuesday.

Oswalt said after the polls close at 7:30, election officials will gather at Palestine City Hall to announce the results.

Election results are traditionally announced at the courthouse, but Oswalt said commissioners decided to announce them in Palestine this time due to that being the main area where people are interested in the outcome of the election.

“Once the election ends, we’ll shut the machines down and take the flash drives to city hall where we’ll upload them into our laptop and announce the results,” said Oswalt.

“We’re really anticipating a good turnout at city hall for the announcement of the results,” Oswalt continued. “Because we’re doing it there in Palestine, it is more convenient for those candidates and their supporters. I think we’ll have a nice turnout tomorrow night of people wanting to know the results.”