School board winner doesn't miss a beat

SPANISH FORK — Unlike other candidates, Randy Boothe didn't spend a sleepless Tuesday night watching election results slowly trickle in.

Instead, the Brigham Young University music professor spent the evening in rehearsals for upcoming productions he is overseeing.

And after discovering no election results when he got home, Boothe headed to bed.

But an early morning phone call from his opponent and current Nebo school board president Brent Gordon let Booth in on the news. Booth beat Gordon 57 percent to 43 percent.

"He called and congratulated me," Boothe said. "That was very nice. I'm just grateful that he has left such a great legacy behind."

Longtime board member Collin Allan, however, managed to preserve his District 2 position over challenger Claudia Stephens 59 percent to 41 percent.

Nebo also added two new members to its board in response to a 2003 Utah law that requires districts with more than 10,000 students to have seven elected members on the district's Board of Education.

K.L. Kischner and R. Dean Rowley will take those seats. Incumbent Kaye Westwood ran unopposed.

"It was a good experience (to run), and it will be a good experience to be a member of the board," said Rowley, a former teacher, principal and district official.

"I think we just have to continue with the things (the district) has going. They are going to be building a lot of new schools and changing a lot of boundaries due to recent growth."

Provo School District also added two members to its school board Tuesday.

Sue Curtis, who ran unopposed after opponent John Sutherland dropped out of the race, will represent District 1. Mary Ann Christiansen beat challenger Gloria Wheeler for the other seat.

Incumbents Richard Sheffield, Darryl Alder and Sandy Packard ran unopposed.

"I just knew that I would be happy either way because Gloria is a wonderful lady and would have done a great job," Christiansen said. "I'm pleased to have won, though, and excited that we have a new seat and somebody to represent our neighborhood."

In Alpine School District, two-term board member Andrea Forsyth retained her District 7 seat over challenger Kelvin Clayton. Incumbent Guy Fugal and newcomer Debbie Taylor ran unopposed.

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E-mail: lwarner@desnews.com