'Common Sense' slate takes 2 of 3 seats over 'SOS' in PHM; One South Bend incumbent loses

One of St. Joseph County's most-watched races resulted in a partial victory for one of the three-candidate slates.

Unofficial results show candidates Christopher Riley and Dana Sullivan, who have campaigned together with the support of the Coalition for Common Sense political action committee, with clear leads over their challengers running with the support of a conservative-leaning parent group.

Matt Chaffee, however, who has the support of the group Strengthen Our Schools, has emerged in front of incumbent candidate James Turnwald.

These results reflect only the votes in St. Joseph County that have been counted so far, with 98.6% reporting. Final results will be certified by the county's election board.

Here's a look at who is leading so far across St. Joseph County school board races in an election cycle that has cast unusual interest in education issues as boards across the country see topics like diversity, gender and academic achievement challenged at state and local levels.

Penn-Harris-Madison

Three candidates sought the at large seat to the Penn-Harris-Madison school board. Riley, the at large incumbent, ran for a different seat in Harris Township. Contenders for the at large seat include George Bashura, a program manager; Andy Rutten, a self-employed engineer; and Sullivan, a school nurse who works in the neighboring South Bend district.

Sullivan led the three-way race with about 53% of the vote on Tuesday night. Rutten brought in about 40% of votes, followed by Bashura with 6.5%.

Penn-Harris-Madison:A school board candidate is pushing for a more conservative board

Riley is giving up his at-large seat to seek the Harris Township seat being vacated by incumbent Angie Gates, who told The Tribune in August she plans to move out of district after her term ends and therefore would not seek reelection. Riley, an attorney seeking his fourth term, was challenged by Bryan Jones, a national sales manager.

P-H-M defends academics:As conservative-backed school board candidates target test scores

Riley, the board's current president, led Tuesday night with more than 60% of the vote.

James Turnwald is the incumbent in Penn Township and is executive director of the Michiana Area Council of Governments. Turnwald was selected to fill a board vacancy in 2021 and is challenged by Chaffee, a regional sales manager.

Chaffee, whose family has a long history working in P-H-M schools, led over Turnwald with 54% of the vote late Tuesday evening.

Incumbent Larry Beehler, a semi-retired farmer who's sat on the board since 1986, ran unopposed for Madison Township and will retain his seat.

Meet them:These are the candidates running for Penn-Harris-Madison school board.

South Bend

The District 1 seat, serving much of east-central South Bend, is open because incumbent Ruth Warren chose not to run again.

Kate Lee, who serves as executive director of education and workforce for the South Bend Regional Chamber, and Wylette Veldman-Weaver, filed for the District 1 seat, though Veldman-Weaver did not actively campaign in the race.

On Tuesday night, Lee led the race with nearly 77% of the vote.

More:Listen to South Bend candidates on the issues

Incumbent District 2 member Oletha Jones fell behind in a packed race of three challengers: Mark Costello, a retired school superintendent; LaQuita Hughes, who works for a local early childhood center; and Gabrel Kempf, a recent Riley High School graduate.

Though meeting state requirements, Kempf, who is 18, may not be able to assume a school board seat, if elected, due to a local South Bend board policy. District 2 stretches south and east in the city, including the areas closest to Riley High School.

As of Tuesday evening, Costello led the race with nearly 48% of the vote, with Jones following at 22%, Kempf at more than 15% and Hughes at just over 14%.

Incumbent Stuart Greene, a professor emeritus with Notre Dame, appears safe in his District 5 seat against challenger Robert "Smitty" Smith, who has worked for the South Bend school district. Greene led the race Tuesday night with more than 53% of the vote.

Gabrel Kempf:South Bend teen is running for school board, but policy may keep him from office

Mishawaka

On the Mishawaka's hybrid school board, two positions are appointed — one by the mayor and another by the Mishawaka Common Council — and three are elected. Only one seat is up for a vote this year.

Incumbent Holly Parks campaigned for her third term and was challenged for her at-large seat on the Mishawaka school board by Heather O'Connell, an elementary teacher in New Prairie schools. Parks led with more than 58% of the vote Tuesday.

More:Just 1 Mishawaka school board seat is up for election this fall. Here's who's running.

John Glenn

North Liberty resident Christine Carson led George Elia by 61% of the vote Tuesday in her pursuit of the Liberty Township seat on the John Glenn school board.

Monica Kulp, Rick Coffman, Korey Pulluaim and Carissa Smith all campaigned for John Glenn's Lincoln Township seat. On Tuesday, Smith led with nearly 33% of the vote followed by Kulp with 28%, Coffman with 26.5% and Pulluaim with13%.

Tyler Duff, Megan Lawler and Todd McGaughey sought John Glenn's Polk Township seat. McGaughey led Tuesday with 45% of the vote followed by Duff with nearly 29% and Lawler with nearly 26%.

Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Carley Lanich at clanich@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @carleylanich.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: 'Common Sense' slate wins 2 of 3 seats over 'SOS' in PHM; 2 new in SB