Voting begins Tuesday in school elections; all candidates running unopposed

Ballot boxes sit in the Columbia County Clerk’s Office for the 2019 Magnolia and Emerson-Taylor-Bradley School District elections. None of the candidates or issues will have opposition.
Ballot boxes sit in the Columbia County Clerk’s Office for the 2019 Magnolia and Emerson-Taylor-Bradley School District elections. None of the candidates or issues will have opposition.

Early voting in two Columbia County school district elections begins Tuesday at the Columbia County Courthouse in Magnolia. Voting hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., May 14-17 and Monday, May 20. The annual 2019 elections include school board membership in both Magnolia and Emerson-Taylor-Bradley School Districts. All candidates are running unopposed.

In Magnolia, School Board of Directors President Mike Waters is up for a five-year term. Greg Sanders and Dickey Herring of Emerson-Taylor-Bradley are also running for another five years.

Two millage measures are also on the ballot, but each district’s respective rate will not change. The issue must be voted upon yearly, but the proposed rates of 33 mills for Magnolia and 37.4 mills for Emerson-Taylor-Bradley are identical to each district’s current rate. Consequentially, no amount of votes cast “for” or “against” the issues can alter the current rates.

Of Magnolia’s rate, 25 mills are specifically used for the operation and maintenance of schools, while the remaining 8 mills are used as debt service, according to the ballot. In Emerson-Taylor-Bradley, 29.9 mills are used to operate and maintain, while 7.5 mills are used for debt service.

If a voter does not reside in a respective school board candidate’s zone, his ballot will only include a millage measure. Waters of Magnolia represents School Zone Position 3, while ETB’s Sanders and Herring represent School Zones 5 and 6, respectively.

Since there is no opposition to any of the candidates or issues, only early voting in the May 21 elections will take place.

Upcoming Events