Close results in many metro Atlanta school board contests

Several school board races in metro Atlanta’s largest counties had paper-thin results.

In Gwinnett County, Georgia’s largest school district, District 2 candidate Chelsea Hutchings led incumbent Steven Knudsen by about 300 votes out of roughly 27,000 votes cast. Meanwhile, District 4 incumbent Adrienne Simmons had a comfortable lead over Camille Christopher.

In Cobb County, the state’s second-largest school district, Michael Garza had a lead of just 78 votes out of about 10,000 votes cast over Susan A. McCartney in the Democratic Party race for the Post 4 seat. The winner will face incumbent David Chastain, who did not have a Republican opponent.

In the Post 6 race, Nichelle A. Davis had a commanding lead over Democrat Jennifer Susko. The winner will not face a Republican candidate in November’s general election.

Post 2 board member Becky Sayler ran unopposed for the Democratic Party nomination and does not have a Republican opponent.

In DeKalb County, District 2 incumbent Whitney McGinniss appeared to avoid a runoff. McGinniss had 54% of the vote. In the crowded District 4 race, Tracy Brisson was ahead of the four other candidates campaigning for that seat with about 37% of the vote, but did not have enough of a lead to avoid a runoff. Sonja Payne Szubski was in second place with about 21% of the vote. District 6 incumbent Diijon DaCosta ran unopposed. DeKalb’s school board races are nonpartisan.

In Fulton County, three incumbents on the ballot each appeared headed to reelection. District 5 incumbent Kristin McCabe had a huge lead over Jean Antoine. District 7 incumbent Michelle Morancie had 75% of the vote in her race against John Seeli. Incumbent Kimberly Dove ran unopposed. District 2 candidate Mary Kaye Pepperman also ran unopposed. The current officeholder, Lillie Pozatek, did not run for reelection. The school board races were nonpartisan.