By Sylvia Maria Gross
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-694160.mp3
Kansas City, MO – Votes for the only really contested race in Kansas City's school board elections will be counted today - it's between write-in candidates in Subdistrict One. For the at-large seat, computer programmer Airick Leonard West defeated incumbent Bill Eddy, who had dropped out the race, though his name was still on the ballot.
Airick Leonard West's supporters cheered him on at his campaign party at a restaurant on 18th and Vine. The first meeting of the new school board is next week, but West says he plans to do a lot of his work throughout the city.
"The work of uniting a community and bringing people together around educational achievement is not work that can be constrained to a school board meeting," West says.
The other two seats on the school board were uncontested - Duane Kelly will maintain his seat in the third subdistrict and Ray Wilson takes the fifth subdistrict seat. The board's first order of business will be selecting a new board president.