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.
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- Natalie Zimmerman
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- Laura Stewart
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- 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.
