Louise Radloff, the longest-serving member of a board of education in the state, ended her run on the Gwinnett County school board Tuesday with a two-to-one defeat at the hands of educator/activist Tarece Johnson.
Since there are no Republicans in the race for the District 5 seat, the 44-year-old Johnson will make history as the first black woman to serve on the county’s school board.
Karen Watkins and Segun Adeyina were neck-and-neck in the race as the Democratic contender for the District 1 Board of Education seat. Even though all precincts are accounted for, the margin is so slim that absentee ballots will perhaps decide who will take on Republican Carole Boyce, the incumbent, in November.
All 6.9 million active voters in the state received forms to send in absentee ballots. State records show that about 1.1 voters requested absentee ballots.
Political analysts have predicted that as many as 25% of voters will use the absentee ballots.
Radloff, who has been on the board for 47 years, is currently the chairman. She’s seen the county go from overwhelming white, to majority minority -- especially in her district.
She has said this would be her last run for office, but she’ll continue to fight for the education of all children as well as their health and safety.
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