COLUMBIANA — Two political newcomers will be joining the Columbiana school board in 2026 per unofficial results from Tuesday’s general election.

While voters retained board member Michael Clark, of Parkview Drive, with 34.39 percent, newcomers Jake Ward, of Park Court, and Dylan Fletcher, of Royal Birkdale Drive, snagged the other two board seats with 32.39 percent and 26.11 percent of the ballots, respectively.

Incumbent Scott Caron also was running for re-election as a write-in.

Clark has served more than a dozen years on school board and is particularly interested in how state funding impacts public education and making that all students graduate Columbiana prepared for success, whether pursuing higher education or not.

Fletcher was running on an “education first” platform, seeking to provide a solution-focused voice on the board.

Ward also was seeking to provide better student opportunities in academics as well as extracurricular programs.

At the 11th hour, a third challenger, Nicholas Clemmer, of North Main Street, had decided to withdraw as a school board candidate, so his votes weren’t not counted in the final numbers.

Two longtime incumbent Crestview school board members won re-election Tuesday night.

Melissa Wellman and Edward Miller finished the night, wrapping up 37.35 percent and 37.21 percent of the vote to beat new candidate Michael Ervin, who locked in a respectable 25.44 percent of the vote.

Ervin had run a “community first”campaign and looked to boost student participation, balance open enrollment and restore trust.

Both incumbents initially were appointed to fill unexpired seats. Wellman, the board president, is wrapping up her ninth year on the board, while Miller was subsequently elected to three more terms in 2013, 2017 and 2021.

Two of United Local’s incumbent school board members won re-election in a seesaw battle Tuesday.

The big news was that board president Denise Rhodes finished with 23.94 percent of the vote to get squeaked out of the three board seats.

Wendy Doyle was the top vote getter with 26.53 percent. She was followed by her fellow incumbent RuthAnn Rinto with 25.47 percent and newcomer Lenny VonFeldt, who defeated Rhodes by only four votes, or 24.06 percent.

It is unknown if that could trigger a recount for that third seat.

Doyle and Rinto are former educators, while VonFeldt ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility, common sense and accountability.