Roy, Sharpe win seats on School Board

One incumbent was returned to the Alachua County School Board and another incumbent was replaced by a former board member during Tuesday’s election.

In the District 2 race, first-term board member Eileen Roy defeated Jeannine Murphey Cawthon by a vote of 20,350 to 10,158. In the District 4 race, former board member Barbara Sharpe beat incumbent Janie Williams by a vote of 15,367 to 13,847. School Board positions pay $34,816 a year.

While awaiting the final results Tuesday evening, Roy said she believed she won by a comfortable margin because, “I think this is what the public wants. The public wants someone to ask tough questions and to follow through to find the answers.”

Roy said her plans for the next four years on the board include working toward equity between schools in the district in terms of all types of resources, as well as pursuing energy policies that cut costs and lobbying the state Legislature.

“The Legislature has no idea of what they have done to our schools,” Roy said, referring to multiple funding cuts that have cost Alachua County at least $14 million and left the district with a general fund of less than $200 million.

Roy also said she is likely entering her final term on the School Board.

In the District 4 race, Sharpe, 69, took back the seat she held for 12 years before deciding not to run in 2004 when Williams won the post.

As the winner, Sharpe said the election means that, “I can get back on the board and start lobbying the Legislature to restore the funding to the public schools, and get our schools back on track.”

Sharpe said she will likely need to spend some time re-acquainting herself with some aspects of the district’s business, but expects many aspects of being a board member to come back to her quickly.

“I am ready to get to work, and to work hard, at keeping public education from being dismantled,” Sharpe said.

Karen Voyles can be reached at kvoyles@gmail.com.