Mike Alfery, Vince DeAugustine, Jennifer Bretz, Jennifer Stape and Tracy Miller won out of a field of nine candidates running for five open seats on the Hempfield Area School Board, according to unofficial vote totals reported Tuesday night.
With all precincts reporting, three of the incumbents appeared to hold onto their seats in a tight race — Alfery with 12.82% of the vote, and DeAugustine and Bretz following with 12.79% and 12.21% respectively. Stape received 12.18%, and Miller received 12.01%.
A field of 15 sought the positions during the primary race in the spring. Four incumbents sought reelection — DeAugustine, who cross-filed, Republican-filed Bretz and Alfery, and Democrat-filed Jeanne Smith. Smith came in sixth, just short of remaining on the board, with 10.23% of the vote.
Democrats Colleen Gallagher, Kathy Charlton, Erin Johns Speese; and Republicans Stape and Miller were the new candidates for the board. Gallagher received 9.92%, Charlton received 9.14%, and Speese received 8.47%.
Incumbent Tony Bompiani did not run again this year, which guaranteed at least one new face would join the board.
Candidates have shown differing opinions on key issues in the district, including book policies and how to approach the ongoing high school project.
