SPS board races challenged

Apr. 6—Challenges in both Sequoyah Public Schools board races will be heard Thursday, April 11, in Judge Lara Russell's courtroom to determine if there is merit for voters to make another trip to the polls.

Lindsey Young filed a challenge in SPS Office 2 race, in which there is a three-vote difference between her and opponent Greg Perry (225-222).

Zane James filed a challenge Friday, April 5, in SPS Office 4 race, with a 15-vote difference between him and opponent Jeff Radley (232-217).

Judge Russell will hear from candidates, the Election Board secretary and others Thursday and issue a ruling on Young's and James' petitions. If challenges are found valid, Election Board Secretary Julie Dermody will write a letter to the governor asking for a new election date.

Young wrote in her challenge, "When reviewing the registries, I found there were 11 voters that should not have voted in the Sequoyah school board election. I understand how it was overlooked according to the school codes, but it is still an irregularity."

James cited the same 11 voting irregularities in the same precincts, along with one double vote and people "claiming the wrong residence."

Dermody said her office confirmed possible irregular votes have been identified, so there is no way to prove with mathematical certainty who is the winner in either district office race. The irregularities were found in precincts 9, 18 and 22.

Dermody said only residents living within a school district can vote there, even if they have attended or their children attend a different or neighboring school district. Just because a person works there, or their children attend a particular school, does not make them eligible to vote in that district.

Candidate Young acknowledged there may have also been some confusion because precinct voter ledgers "code" school districts by numbers, as opposed to the more common alphabetic listings such as "SEQ" or "SPS." Dermody agreed.

In Office 2, Young had two absentee votes, 26 early voters, and 222 in-person. Perry had seven absentee votes, 15 early votes, and 203 in-person.

In Office 4, James had two absentee votes, 26 early voters ,and 217 in-person. Radley had seven absentee votes, 15 early votes, and 232 in-person.

In other races, voters in Inola approved a 1.5% hike in the local sales tax Tuesday, with a resounding 68.8% approval.

Voters in the Verdigris Public Schools district gave their nod of approval to a $1.795 million bond issue with a 73% majority.

Both communities are in the southern part of Rogers County, where business and residential development have been booming. The opening of the Port of Inola is expected to bring 1,500 or more jobs to the area, and housing developers in the nearby Verdigris area are looking at add another 600 homes to house workers who will fill those jobs.

The ability to buy land adjacent to the current school property to accommodate the coming need is exactly what Verdigris Superintendent Mike Payne had hoped voters would approve.

Inola town administrator and local Chamber officers believe the 1.5% sales tax increase will bring much-needed funding into the city for repair and upgrades to the town's aging water and sewer systems.

All Tuesday, April 2, election results

Verdigris Public Schools: Proposition 1 to approve a $1.795 million bond package passed 423-156, 73.06%.

Town of Inola: Proposition to raise the town sales tax 1.5% (3% to 4.5%) passed 75-34, 68.81%.

Catoosa Public Schools: Board Office 4, Derrick Smith, 190-89 votes, 68.1%.

Sequoyah Public Schools — Board Office 4: Jeff Radley, 232-217 votes, 51.67%. — Board Office 2: Greg Perry, 225-222 votes, 50.34%.

Surrounding school districts, partially within Rogers County results:

Chouteau-Mazie Public Schools — Board Office 4: Tina Van Horn won with 308-271 votes, 53.2%. — Proposition 1 bond issue passed with 354-230 votes, 60.52%. — Proposition 2 bond issue passed with 359-223 votes, 61.68%.

Owasso Public Schools: Board Office 4, Brent England , 660-514, 56.22%.