In the only locally contested race in Whitley County Tuesday, Kimberly Sasser Croley, James David Hannah and Ben Childers were elected to seats on the Corbin Independent Board of Education, and will join incumbents Carcille Burchette and Paul Taylor on the board effective Jan. 1. They will replace outgoing board members Stephen Mulberry, Keith Gibson and Todd Childers, all of whom chose to not seek re-election.
The Corbin Independent Board of Education race includes voters in both Whitley and Knox counties.
Croley was the top vote getter in the Corbin BOE race with 2,672 votes. She is no stranger to the board, having served as a board member for a total of 16 years in the past.
“Obviously, I wanted to do this or else I wouldn’t have gone through it again,” Croley said. “The hard part is over, and now is the easy part, which is working with our teachers, administrators and parents in order to help our students recognize their full potential.”
Croley commented that, with three experienced board members leaving, she felt that her knowledge and experience as a prior board member was needed. “There are so many big decisions to be made,” she said, adding that she feels she will be able to help guide the board in the right direction in the years ahead.
Croley also thanked the voters for their continued support.
Hannah came in second in the race with 2,324 votes. He said that he feels good about the result, and he thanks all of those who voted for him in the race.
“I just want to do the best job that I can for the kids,” Hannah added. “I think that this will be a good board to work with.”
Hannah mentioned vocational studies and supporting school resources officers as two areas where he plans to focus a lot of his attention. “I want our kids and our teachers to feel safe,” he said.
Childers finished third in the race with 2,104 votes. He said, “First and foremost, I am just honored to get to serve alongside the other great members of the board. Being on the board is a huge responsibility, because we have a reputation as one of the finest school districts in the state. I am honored to be able to help maintain that status, and help lead us to new heights.”
Candidates Jeremiah Goforth and Anthony Miller were also in the race for the three open Corbin School Board seats. Goforth finished fourth in the voting with 1,112 votes, while Miller finished fifth with 914 votes.
