Stevenson leads Gilbert in Othello School Board race

OTHELLO — Jenn Stevenson has about a 30-vote lead over Kevin Gilbert in the lone contested race for the Othello School Board.

In unofficial results released Tuesday night, Stevenson has 329 votes to 296 for Gilbert. The winner will replace current board chair Juan Garza, a seven-year veteran of the board who didn’t file for reelection.

Two other seats on the board were up for election in 2017, and both were running unopposed. Kenneth Johnson received 513 votes in unofficial results, and will replace longtime board member Stewart Hilmes, who moved out of his director district and did not file for reelection. (In Othello there are no at-large positions. All school board members must live in the director district they represent.) Incumbent Tony Ashton was running unopposed and received 513 votes in unofficial totals released Tuesday.

Updated vote totals will be released Wednesday afternoon.

— Staff report