Woman, incumbent win seats in Jackson voting

The only female candidate and an incumbent will fill the two vacancies on the Jackson School Board for the next three years.

Cathy Goodman pulled in the highest number of votes in Tuesday's election, getting 803 votes, or 31.9 percent of voters. With the second-highest vote total of 657 votes -- or 26.1 percent -- incumbent Brent Wills won his second term on the school board.

The two defeated Scott Wren, who received 280 votes, or 11.1 percent; Fred O. Jones with 401 votes, or 15.9 percent; and incumbent Mark Baker with 378 votes, or 15 percent. Baker and Wills were the only incumbents running.

"I had a lot of positive support from the community in different age groups, but I didn't really know what to expect," Goodman said. "I'm excited about the new challenge. This was the next step in volunteering in the school district and the community for me."

Although there were five candidates vying for just two openings, Goodman said the race was very amiable.

"I think all of us wanted to do what was best for the community," Goodman said. "I would have been OK with any of the candidates winning because there was a good group of people running."

In Jefferson City Tuesday night for a seminar, Wills said he was surprised by the election results.

"I thought Cathy might get the most votes, but I didn't know from there," Wills said. "I think she'll be a good addition to the board."

Goodman, who works in the quality management office at Southeast Missouri Hospital and is involved in several volunteer programs in the district, said she has no specific expectations for the next three years on the board.

"I hope to see plans on a new high school move forward," she said. "And I think there are going to be a lot of challenges, especially with the state's financial situation,"

Wills, who owns Wills Insurance in Jackson, also said budget issues would be at the forefront in the next few years. Overcrowded classes and a lack of teachers in the district are also issues that school officials say will have to be addressed in the next few years.

"It'll be interesting," he said. "I just appreciate the support I received and hope to do the best for the district."

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128