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The Talbot County Board of Education elections on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 ended with three new members on the board.
In District Two, Ann O'Connor defeated incumbent Candace Henry. Henry is currently the Vice President of the Board. O'Connor is a former teacher, is married, and has six children, all of whom have attended the Talbot County Public Schools. She ran on a platform based on the ABC’s of education: Advancing Academics, Boosting Accountability, and Cultivating Character.
In District Five, Karla Wieland Cherry defeated incumbent Anna Howie. Howie had been appointed by Governor Wes Moore to fill a vacancy on the Board. Cherry is a local real estate agent who is well known for her participation in various charity events in the county. She ran on a platform of getting back to teaching the basics. She is a registered nurse and an associate real estate broker. She volunteers with many local organizations. She is married and has two children.
District Six saw Cynthia Marrah Jurrius defeat Kerry Gunshenan for the seat left vacant by Mary Wheeler. Jurrius practices mediation law and is a director of conflict resolution programs. She is married and has three sons, all of whom graduated from Talbot County Public Schools. She ran on a platform of collaboration with community members of many diverse perspectives.
The 2024 School Board election was one of the most active in recent memory. O'Connor and Cherry were not endorsed by the local Teachers Union and were harassed on social media by radical Progressive groups who called them nasty names and lied about them. It is thought that these tactics used by the extreme left actually may have backfired in the election.
Progressives claimed that O'Connor, Cherry and Gunshenan were endorsed by the local chapter of Moms for Liberty. Leadership of the group said that no endorsements had been given to any school board candidates. The group's candidate's forum was held in September and all candidates were invited. Henry and Howie did not participate, and Moms for Liberty Talbot said they did not RSVP.
Jurrius was endorsed by the teacher's union.
Across the state of Maryland, more than half of the conservative candidates, people who called for better academics, getting back to basics, more discipline measures to protect students, and parental rights who were called "extreme" by the Democrats, won their races. Statewide, the left has promised to target conservative candidates more in future elections:
The election results in District 2 and 5 were clearly an upset as many expected the incumbents to win. This included outgoing current board member Mary Wheeler who stated at last month's school board meeting that she was looking forward to what Henry and Howie would accomplish as they serve on the board for the next four years. It was somewhat surprising to people who heard Wheeler's comment since seated members of taxpayer funded boards do not usually comment about current elections or in support of certain candidates in their meetings.
Wheeler ends her tenure on the board this year as do Henry and Howie.
The remaining board positions are up for election in 2026.
Interesting Note: The recent election leaves the Talbot School Board with a minority of three experienced board members, Jackson, Bridges, and Dobson. All the others are either recently appointed (Strawberry) or newly elected.
