Voters elected two new members to the Board of Education in the 2022 General Election. Stephanie Hyder Laseter won the District 2 seat. Diedre Kay Breeden was the top vote getter in the District 4 race, beating incumbent Carol Arnold.
In District 2, incumbent board member Tommy Cabe had filed to run for re-election but died in September. His name remained on the ballot as it was past the date to have it removed. Cabe received 1,844 votes (14.22%).
Laseter was the top vote getter with 4,020 votes (31%) followed closely by Danny Reitmeier with 3,846 votes (29.66). Billy Handley received 3,202 votes (24.69%) and there were 55 write-ins.
“Thank you to Macon County for the vote of confidence and support. Thank you to my family and friends for all the hard work during the campaign, and for the candidates who stepped up to run in both district races. I’m looking forward to the work ahead,” Laseter said.
She said school infrastructure needs should be prioritized in the county budget planning process, adding that meeting those needs will be more difficult without the extra funds that could have come from the proposed sales tax increase. That proposal was defeated in the election.
“However, I’m confident that our Board of Commissioners is ready to meet that challenge by taking some financial risk, thinking outside the box, and investing in Macon County schools,” she said.
It was estimated the local option sales tax could have generated up to $2 million in new revenue each year for school capital improvements. Laseter wants to make sure the sales tax referendum is back on the ballot in 2024.
In the interim, she said they need to find a way for the new Franklin High School project to move forward as well as planning for the school system’s future. She said the board should be strategically thinking about the next 5-10 years in terms of budgeting for infrastructure, new innovations and vocational opportunities.
District 4
Breeden received 7,250 votes (55.02%) in the District 4 race with incumbent Carol Arnold receiving 5,887 votes (44.68%). There were 39 write-in votes.
Breeden said she is excited to get to work as a new board member. “I would like to express my gratitude to Macon County for giving me the opportunity to serve on the Board of Education,” she said. “My priorities will always be promoting the best interest of the students which is multifaceted; ensuring they have the best resources and facilities possible, protecting the culture of the classrooms for learning, supporting our amazing teachers and continuing to look forward in finding ways to promote the success of our children - our future.”
Arnold, a retired educator with 41 years of experience, served on the school board from 1998-2002 and was appointed to the board in 2020 to fill Fred Goldsmith’s term. “To the voters of Macon County, I thank you for your support. As a staunch believer in democracy, I understand the people have spoken,” she said. “My wish for Macon County and the new leadership is to continue to move forward. I will continue to support the schools as I have for the past 38 years. God bless you and Macon County.”
The new school board members will be sworn into office at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 5 at the Central Office. There will be a special called meeting following the ceremony. The regular meeting will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at Nantahala School.