It isn't safe to say that Sara Beth Reynolds won a seat on the school board for Distric 4 in Polk County just yet.
- Elections Office to possibly recount votes for school board member
- Sara Reynolds won school board seat by a slim margin
- The recount decision will be made on Friday
According to officials, the race was too close to call Tuesday night. Spokesperson P.J. Leiva said the Polk County Supervisors of Elections Office will decide Friday whether to recount the votes.
Reynolds ran against Becky Troutman. The votes were so close it was within .2 of a percent margin.
Reynolds, 24, received 115,697 or 50.1 percent of the votes, while Troutman, 43, received 115,232 or 49.9 percent.
According to the Ledger, of Polk's 407,647 registered voters, 230,929 voted in the nonpartisan School Board race.
District 4 encompasses 14 schools in east Polk County. Board members must live in the district they represent, but voters county-wide can vote for each seat on the board. Dick Mullenax, who currently occupies the seat, did not seek re-election.
Reynolds said either way, she's happy.
"It feels good being outspent 10-to-1 and being this close," Reynolds said. "The community obviously heard my message of needing a younger, fresher voice on the board and it's very exciting."
Reynolds is a former program director for the Randy Robert Foundation, which gives students scholarships and public service opportunities. She stepped down from the position during her campaign, she said, to avoid any possible conflicts of interest. She is currently a development director for Theatre Winter Haven.
Troutman worked in public schools for 12 years as a teacher, guidance counselor and staffing specialist. She recently became a certified school psychologist through Nova Southeastern University. She owns a business, Labor Solutions, with her husband, Baxter Troutman, a former state representative.
School board members will be sworn in Nov. 22 at 9 a.m.