Anna Valle loses school board vote

ROYAL CITY - After electing Anna Valle to the Royal School District Board of Directors for two terms, Royal Slope voters have denied her a third term.

Michael Noftle and Ben Fanning topped Valle in a close vote in the primary election on August 16. Noftle got 210 votes (35.41 percent) Fanning 202 (34.06) and Valle 181 (30.52).

There was some question about Fanning's eligibility to run. The school district has purchased items from his store, Royal City Harvest Foods, and the question was conflict of interest.

Superintendent Rose Search said the district's legal counsel advised the district that the threshold for such a determination is $2,000 worth of purchases. She added that purchases have totaled less than $2,000.

According to a representative of the state attorney general's office, such questions are not really determined before an election. They are decided in court after someone makes an official claim against an elected official.

- Staff report