Deborah Tyler wins Aiken County school board special election
Apr. 12—Deborah Tyler won the special election to replace Sandra Shealey on the Aiken County Public School District Board of Education. Residents of northeastern Aiken County and southern Saluda County cast their ballots in the special election Tuesday.
Tyler, 56, received 346 votes, 47.83% of the votes cast, to defeat Kim Livingston who received 210 votes (27.6%), Tony Kirkland who received 111 votes (14.59%) and Drew Klapko who received 76 votes (9.99%).
Tyler said it meant a lot to win.
"I'm humbled by the mere fact that people are placing their trust in me to represent them," Tyler said. "So, I'm excited."
In Aiken County, Tyler won 9 of 11 precincts where votes were cast — no votes were cast in Shaws Fork — and tied Livingston in a 10th precinct, located in Ward in Aiken County, where both received 13 votes.
Tyler's best performing precinct was White Pond where she received 16 of the 17 votes cast.
Tyler said she tried to be fair and treat people right and that her success wasn't so much about her message but the way she lived and treated people.
In Saluda County — students in southern Saluda County attend Aiken County schools — Livingston won the three precincts being contested. Livingston received 28 of the 30 votes cast in Richland, 100 of the 112 votes in Ridge Spring and 6 of the 9 votes cast in Saluda County's Ward.
Tyler said in March she wants to improve teacher retention and the performance of elementary school students. Tyler said she wants to provide more career and technology options for students at Wagener-Salley and Ridge Spring-Monetta high schools.
She added she plans to reach out to her opponents after the election is certified to work together to improve the school district. Tyler also thanked Shealey for her service on the board.
