The candidates who will appear on the 2022 ballot for New Hanover County Board of Education may still be unclear, with a margin of only three votes separating two candidates.
With current results, Jennah Bosch would not earn a nomination for the Democratic Party, with the lowest votes cast for her on Tuesday. But she is only behind the next lowest, incumbent Nelson Beaulieu, by three votes, with provisional and absentee ballots still to be counted.
“I’m gratified for the support that the Democratic Party in New Hanover County has shown me and I look forward to the electoral process playing itself out,” Beaulieu said Tuesday night.
Those ballots will be counted in the canvass May 27, and until then results are considered unofficial.
Recounts are also possible for the democratic primary. A candidate has the right to demand a recount if the difference between themselves and the lowest prevailing candidate is less than 1%. The difference between Beaulieu and Bosch is only 0.01%.
“We still have votes to be counted plus the absentee ballots so it’s still anybody’s game at this point,” Bosch said in a statement to the StarNews. “All of the candidates are very passionate about the students, teachers and schools so its always difficult to have to say someone lost when we all just want to champion for them.”
Democrat primary results
Veronica McLaurin-Brown led the democratic primary, securing more than 26% of votes cast. McLaurin-Brown is a retired educator turned advocate who most recently worked with the organization Love Our Children to end out-of-school suspensions for children under 8.
![New Hanover County Board of Education Democratic candidate Veronica McLaurin-Brown is interviewed by WECT at Johnny Luke's in Wilmington, N.C., Tuesday, May 17, 2022. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]](https://digismak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Board-candidates-head-to-general-election.JPG)
“I am grateful for the support I received and look forward to campaigning for the election in the fall,” McLaurin-Brown said in a statement to the StarNews.
The closest candidate to her was Dorian Cromartie, with a little over 21% of the votes. Cromartie has a long history of work in New Hanover County Schools and his familial ties. His grandmother is the namesake of Freeman Elementary School, and he spends much of his time working as the secretary of the PTA at Freeman and through other volunteer work in the schools.
Meet the candidates:New Hanover County Board of Education Democratic primary
Incumbent Judy Justice, a retired educator who has served on the board since 2018, follows with almost 20%.
“I feel good about this,” Justice said. “I’m very happy about Dorian and Veronica, because they’re great people. I know them well. I can trust them and they’ve got some excellent ideas and experience.
![New Hanover County Board of Education Democratic candidates Dorian Cromartie, left, and Judy Justice monitor the voting returns at Johnny Luke's in Wilmington, N.C., Tuesday, May 17, 2022. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]](https://digismak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/1652873366_638_Board-candidates-head-to-general-election.JPG)
Currently, Beaulieu is the fourth and final candidate to earn a spot on the ballot. He has served on the school board since 2018. Beaulieu is a professor of political science and history at Cape Fear Community College and has two daughters who currently attend New Hanover County Schools. His close opponent, Jennah Bosch, is the mom of a New Hanover County student who ran her campaign largely on platforms promoting mental health.
Republican primary results
On the Republican side, Pat Bradford and Melissa Mason have led the race throughout the night. Bradford, a grandmother, mother and business owner, has 22.19% of the Republican vote, and Mason, mother of two New Hanover County students, trails by less than 100 votes.
“I am so thankful to all who showed up and voted for me” Mason said. “As a newcomer with limited resources, my message was clear and unchanging. The community understood that my pledge to them is to fight for what’s best for all of our students.”
Incumbent Pete Wildeboer and Josie Barnhart fall in the middle, separated by only 19 votes. Wildeboer is a retired educator and was appointed to the board in 2020 after former board member Bill Rivenbark was elected to the Board of County Commissioners. Barnhart is a former teacher and mother to three New Hanover County students.
![New Hanover County Board of Education Republican candidate Pat Bradford, right, talks to supporters at the New Hanover County Republican headquarters in Wilmington, N.C., Tuesday, May 17, 2022. [MATT BORN/STARNEWS]](https://digismak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/1652873366_32_Board-candidates-head-to-general-election.JPG)
“I am humbled so many in our community came out to support me and to represent our kids during this primary,” Barnhart said in a statement to the StarNews. “We need leaders right now who are relationship builders, critical thinkers, and problem solvers and I am that individual for our kids in New Hanover County.”
Chris Sutton did not earn a nomination for the general election with only around 16% of the vote. Sutton sought out a spot on the board amid a push for transparency and as a classmate and friend of victims of former teacher Michael Kelly, who pleaded guilty to more than 50 counts of sexual abuse.
The results are unofficial until the New Hanover County Board of Elections holds its vote canvass on May 27. The canvass ensures votes were counted correctly and allows for required audits. Election officials use the canvass to consider challenges to votes and process provisional and absentee ballots received after election day.
The canvass is required by law and held after each election.
Reporter Sydney Hoover can be reached at 910-343-2339 or [email protected].
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism