School Board Candidates Backed by Teachers’ Union Sweep in Unofficial Results

photo of montgomery county board of education seal

Three new faces will grace the Montgomery County Board of Education, according to the unofficial results of Tuesday’s election. The candidates appearing headed for victory were all supported by the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA).

All Apple Ballot candidates appeared headed for victory, according to unofficial returns from the Montgomery County Board of Elections. They are Natalie Zimmerman, Laura Stewart and Rita Montoya.

 

In District 2, Zimmerman, a teacher, was ahead of Brenda Diaz, who has more than 20 years of teaching experience, with 202 of the county’s 257 election precincts counted. Zimmerman led with 55.6% of the vote to Diaz’s 43.7%.

Board Member Rebecca Smondroski, who currently represents that district, was defeated during the primary in this district.

(202 of 257 election day precincts reported)

Name Early Voting Election Day Mail-In Ballot Provisional Total Percentage
Brenda M. Diaz
56,725 50,071 19,395 NR 126,191 43.74%
Natalie Zimmerman
65,972 56,287 38,180 NR 160,439 55.61%
Other Write-Ins
729 921 208 NR 1,858 0.64%
Totals
123,426 107,279 57,783 NR 288,488 100.00%

 

In District 4, Shebra Evans, who has sat on the board for eight years, appears to have lost to Stewart, a community activist who was active in a fight for MCPS’s policy not to allow parents to opt out of approved curriculum and books.

Stewart led with 57.4% of the vote to Evans’ 41.6%.

(202 of 257 election day precincts reported)

Name Early Voting Election Day Mail-In Ballot Provisional Total Percentage
Shebra Evans
51,910 40,594 21,690 NR 114,194 41.63%
Laura M. Stewart
63,193 60,044 34,154 NR 157,391 57.38%
Other Write-Ins
1,162 1,244 295 NR 2,701 0.98%
Totals
116,265 101,882 56,139 NR 274,286 100.00%

 

In the At Large seat, Montoya, a PTA president and former public juvenile defender, appears to have unseated incumbent Lynne Harris, who currently is vice president of the school board. Montoya led with 53% of the vote to Harris’ 46%.

(202 of 257 election day precincts reported)

Name Early Voting Election Day Mail-In Ballot Provisional Total Percentage
Lynne Harris
54,271 46,859 29,135 NR 130,265 46.00%
Rita Montoya
64,598 57,248 28,303 NR 150,149 53.02%
Other Write-Ins
1,240 1,267 276 NR 2,783 0.98%
Totals
120,109 105,374 57,714 NR 283,197 100.00%

“The Apple Ballot was very strong,” Stewart said Tuesday night. “I did feel people in general have a lot of empathy for teachers now with all their needs.”

When teachers campaigned for the three candidates on the Apple Ballot, they talked to voters about not receiving enough support and increasing class sizes “and that resonated” with the voter, she said.

She attributed the fact that the incumbents were all defeated to “the constant scandals” at Montgomery County Public Schools.

The winner will serve a four-year term and be paid $25,000 a year.

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