Incumbents triumph in

local school board races

By BILL RICHMOND

City editor

Retired teacher and first-time school board candidate Dallas Osting Tuesday triumphed in the four-way race for the Randolph Central School Board At-Large position. None of the candidates for this position were incumbents as board member Troy Prescott did not seek reelection, instead choosing to - successfully - run for the county commissioner nomination.

"I'm just really happy," Osting said when he leared of the election results. "I said when I first started I thought I had a different idea of things and a fresh perspective - I'm just glad people thought that's what they wanted on the board."

He said all of the candidates for the position have the interests of Randolph Central students at heart and would have been capable of doing a good job.

"There were some very qualified people in that group," he said. "I'm just glad I won out."

Osting has been involved in education most of his life, working for five school corporations over his 39-year teaching career. He has taught physical education, health, drivers education, general science, biology, advanced biology. He has also been a coach and athletic director. He is currently assistant men's basketball coach at Anderson University.

Vote totals for the Randolph Central At-Large position were: 1186 for Osting, 781 for Cheryl Prescott, 756 for Cynthia Dye and 278 for Tom Newcom - respectively 39.52 percent to 26.02, 25.19 and 9.26 percent.

Randolph Central Ward Township District representative Linda Wagner was reelected to the board. Wagner won a 3-way race with 1,227 votes to 973 for Stacy Marie Moore and 700 for Donald Blunk - 42.31 percent to 33.55 and 24.14 percent respectively.

Wagner has been very involved with the Randolph Central School Corporation in several different capacities. She said her commitment grows stronger after witnessing her children and grandchildren participate in the educational experience at Randolph Central.

Wagner said she hopes to continue her dedication and service to the school family and to help the school district move in a positive direction.

Other candidates in contested races for school board positions include:

Randolph Southern School Board At-Large representative Tom McFarland defeated challenger Michael "Tony" Lutz 590 votes to 267 (68.84 percent to 31.16 percent).

Randolph Southern Board President Barbara Hines maintained her Washington Township seat by a margin of 488 votes to 371 for Steve Clevenger - 56.81 percent to 43.19 percent.

Diana Grubbs defeated Casey Sheppard in the Union School Board Eastern District race by a margin of 333 votes to 185 - 64.29 percent to 35.71 percent.