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Voters talk politics in the rotunda of the Mercer County Courthouse on Tuesday evening.
CELINA - Adam Schleucher, Jon M. Clouse and Julie Sommer emerged from a crowded pack to claim three open seats on Celina City Schools Board of Education on Election Day.
Schleucher, Clouse and Sommer were able to fend off eight other candidates, Amanda Bruce, John Contreras, Stacy Evers, Tim Homan, Andrea Kuehne, Ashleigh Lantz, Tiffany McKirnan and Jessica Rolfes.
Schleucher captured 3,124 votes or 17.58%, followed by Clouse with 2,233 votes or 12.57% and Sommer with 2,115 votes or 11.90%, according to the unofficial results from Mercer County Board of Elections.
The trio will replace school board members Bill Sell, Deb Guingrich and Barbara Vorhees, who chose not to seek reelection.
Schleucher is a 40-year-old farmer who is also involved in sales.
He said the school district is at a critical point. He ran to earn back the trust of the community and rebuild the relationship with school personnel.
"I'm really excited and we've got a lot of work ahead of us but there's going to be three new board members," he said. "I'm pretty excited about working with Jon and also Julie and I think it's going to be good for Celina going forward."
Clouse is a 69-year-old retired educator who today has a woodworking business. and farm.
He said the district has an amazing opportunity with the new school building project, adding he wants to push positivity at all levels. He also wants to stem the loss of students to other schools through open enrollment.
"I'm very thankful. I appreciate everybody that supported me, the kind words I've received over the last few weeks. I will do my best," Clouse said.
Sommer is a 60-year-old fifth grade teacher at Marion Local Schools. She felt it's time to give back to her community and said she wants to ensure the new school buildings are carried out as presented to voters and properly staffed and that busing is adequately addressed.
"I'm excited to work with the school board, keep things going in the right direction," she said.
The new board members will be tasked with seeing the district through a $126.8 million building project and selecting someone to succeed superintendent Ken Schmiesing, who is set to retire Jan. 1.
Mercer County Board of Elections workers comb through paperwork at the Mercer County Courthouse on Tuesday night.
