T1B

School board candidate loses election because she didn't vote for herself; calls not voting a 'dumb move'

Roberto Acosta | Flint Journal

BURTON, Michigan — One vote was all Burton resident Lisa Osborn needed to win a seat on the Bentley Board of Education.

She didn’t get any, not even one from herself.

“I’ve never seen that happen before where a valid write-in candidate didn’t get a single vote,” said Doreen Fulcher, Genesee County elections supervisor for the last six years.

Osborn said she was at her son’s baseball game at Flint Southwestern Academy and didn’t vote on May 3.

“We were like, ‘Oh my goodness,’ ” Osborn said, referring to herself and her husband.

“I (thought I) would have gotten a vote,” she said. “I had plenty of people I know that would have gone up there and voted.”

There were 307 votes cast in the election, 12 write in votes. None of those write in votes were for a candidate who had filed a declaration of intent by April 22, a requirement to be elected as a write-in candidate.

Two seats were open and incumbent board member Sofia M. Boulton won re-election with 295 votes.

The only other valid candidate was Osborn.

Board secretary Toby Bauldry said she was glad Osborn wasn’t elected to the board — since “she couldn’t find the time to go and vote for herself.”

“That’s understandable,” said Osborn of Bauldry’s reaction. “I should probably come to more meetings and know more about what’s going on. It was a dumb move.”

School officials now will accept applications and interview applicants, then appoint someone to the school board, Bauldry said.

Burton City Clerk Julie Adams said officials were surprised that Osborn didn’t win.

“My chairman and everybody in their precincts were shocked,” said Adams. “I saw zero on the tape and zero on the (poll) book. I thought, ‘Oh, this is not good.’ ”

Despite the election results, Osborn plans to apply for the seat.

“I’m still interested because I have kids that go to the Bentley School District,” she said. “We just don’t know what’s going on really, I guess.”

The district has until June 3 — 30 days from the date of the election — to fill the position with a Bentley resident, said executive administrative assistant Megan Daunt.

Genesee Intermediate School District board members will choose a replacement if Bentley officials are unable to find one by the deadline.

The seat — which was vacated by current board president Christopher Sytek, who chose not to run for re-election — will be up for grabs again next May, along with a full-time seat.

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Dinsdale wrote:She's got a look that says "I give up the butthole."

KC Scott wrote:She has a crazy eye

Goober McTuber wrote:She's not particularly attractive.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:She's not particularly attractive.

Here's the thing, Goobs. For dudes not into package waxing, the question isn't how "attractive" she is, the question is whether or not you'd slide your meat stick in her ham wallet.

KC Scott wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:I'd let her lick her lick my coin purse.

You have a brazillian waxed coin purse?

Goober McTuber wrote:

KC Scott wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:I'd let her lick her lick my coin purse.

You have a brazillian waxed coin purse?

Being the sharpest of the KC crowd isn't saying much, is it? Yet another gem for your closeted spreadsheet.

KC Scott wrote:

Atomic Punk wrote: I like my new sig.

As opposed to "Big Sale at Victoria Secret this weekend only"