RISON - The Zone 3 seat on the Cleveland County School Board will have a contested race this year as the incumbent, Kelly Taylor of Kingsland, is being challenged by Steven Austin Saeler of Kingsland.
Meanwhile, incumbent Woodlawn School Board member Aaron Tooke of Rye was the only candidate to file for the atlarge seat up for election on the Woodlawn School Board. He will begin a new five-year with the first school board meeting after the election.
The end of the filing period for the May 2023 school election was at noon last Wednesday, March 1.
The ballot draw to determine the order the candidates will appear on the Zone 3 ballot was held Tuesday, March 7, at the clerk's office in the courthouse. It was determined that Taylor's name will appear first on the ballot with Saeler's second.
(continued from page 1) This will be the first time that the Zone 3 seat has had a contested race since the zone boundaries were adjusted for redistricting following the 2020 census. It is the only zone that includes portions of both the former Kingsland and Rison School Districts.
The majority of Zone 3 is located west of the Saline River, though it does not include the Kingsland City limits. Other than the far northwest corner of Cleveland County, it includes all the county north of Hwy. 79 and west of the Saline River. It also includes all the area south of the Saline River to roughly Hwy. 189, though it does include a small portion south of Hwy. 189 along Hwy. 97.
On the east side of the Saline River, it includes roughly both sides of Hwy. 79 up to the Rison city limits. It also includes Tom Taylor and Mayberry Roads on the south side of Hwy. 35 North at the Bethel community, and there is a small section west of the Mt. Elba Road south of Rison.
The winner of the Zone 3 election will fill one of seven seats on the Cleveland County School Board.
The 2023 school election will be held Tuesday, May 2,...
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