Results for St. Mary's school board primaries certified

On May 14, the people voted for their choices in a bevy of races, including the nonpartisan primary election for three local board of education races, and last week all of those results became official.

There are three seats on the St. Mary’s County’s school board up for election with multiple candidates vying for each seat. Two of those seats were narrowly decided as a pair of candidates in each move on to November’s general election.

The closest result was in the District 2 race. Incumbent Cathy Allen won handily with 57.2% of the vote, but Elena Brewer (21.7%) eked out second place over Anthony Lotierzo (21.1%) by just 100 votes. Allen and Brewer will now go head to head in November.

In the at-large race, Josh Guy came in first after earning 45% of the vote.

Brandie Edelen was runner-up with 27% of the votes, less than 3 percentage points ahead of Angela Wathen. Deforest Rathbone earned 4% of the vote. Edelen and Guy will face off on Nov. 5.

“It was clear to Angie [Wathen] and I, during our first conversation, how much we have in common, with both of us having taught in the public schools, both being business owners, and sharing much of the same reasons for running,” Edelen wrote in an email. “I knew the race would be a close one, but her and I were confident that whichever one of us was chosen, she would be a positive addition to the board.”

“Since the beginning of my campaign I have focused on safety and security, parental involvement and ensuring we have educators in all of our classrooms,” Guy wrote in an email. “I’ll be working hard and listening closely to voters to earn their support in November.”

Tyra Bennett of Lexington Park is hoping to appear on November’s ballot through petition for the at-large seat against Guy and Edelen. The state board of elections website said she has issued a declaration of intent to run on June 10 through petition.

In District 4, incumbent Mary Washington (60.1%) and David Drys (23%) advanced to the general election. Charles LV Carrington earned 17% of the vote.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you to the citizens who supported and voted for me in the primary election,” Washington wrote in an email. “Now, onward to the general election in November. I ask for your vote again.”

While county election results were previously certified at the local level, any contest that includes votes across multiple counties must be certified at the state level. The Board of State Canvassers on June 13 certified the 2024 primary results for federal and statewide elected offices and presented its certified findings to the Maryland State Board of Elections.