2023 School Board Election Results

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Looking forward to 2024/2025

First, the Good

Take Back Our Schools Star Kelly Potteiger Wins in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland Valley!

We know many of you were supportive of Kelly and following her active campaign. It pays to start early! Kelly beat incumbent school director Jessica Silcox by 66 votes, despite Jessica’s advantage of having been nominated by both political parties. In a stunning outcome, incumbent Jevon Ford won handily on the Democrat ticket, despite Silver Spring being a predominantly Republican district.

Also congratulations to newcomers Matthew Barrick and Andrew Clancy in the Monroe/Middlesex District of Cumberland Valley.

Big Spring Newcomers Will Control the Board

Take Back Our Schools endorsed candidates Seth Cornman, David Fisher, Julie Boothe, Michael Hippensteel and Lisa Shade all won their regional seats on the Big Spring School Board. We are so proud of the team in Big Spring and we look forward to seeing what reforms they can accomplish in their first terms!

Wins in Shippensburg

Kirk Naugle, Mike Carey, and Daren Donovan won their regional seats in the Shippensburg School District. Kirk had gotten appointed to the board to fill a vacancy a few months ago and has gotten a head start on board business. His construction experience is going to be very important on the board, as they are embarking on major projects in 2024. He also has had a major win already in fighting back a major contract that would have resulted in more “social-emotional learning” student data-mining in the district.

East Pennsboro Maintains Conservative Control

Take Back Our Schools endorsed newcomers Harold Rittner, Elmer Parker Shambaugh, Gerry Wevodau and Leslie Marshall won 4-year seats on the board. Yvette Wevodau won a 2-year slot to fill a board vacancy.

Wins in West Shore

Endorsed late-comer Kelly Brent won her seat to fill a 2-year term in Region 2.

Now, the Bad…

Mechanicsburg Losses

Take Back Our Schools candidates Roger Apple (Region 2) and Sam Hepford (Region 3) lost their regional seats; Roger by 105 votes and Sam by 210 votes.  There were last-minute attacks on and Sam and Roger, labeling them “extremists,” “book banners” and “anti-teacher.”

We don’t believe this was the main reason for their losses, but it likely didn’t help. We are learning from this experience and will be more prepared for 2025.

West Shore Write-in Campaign Falls Short

Take Back Our Schools took on a West Shore write-in campaign for endorsed candidate Mariana Reed in Region 1. Mariana had been knocking doors and had all the polls covered on election day. We helped her share her story and her vision with 2,475 Republican and swing-voter households before the election. Write-in campaigns are usually hard, and Mariana got a late start.  She fell short against the lone candidate on the ballot.

And The Ugly…

Carlisle Conservatives Shut Out

The Carlisle school board race went entirely to Democrats. We believe following the Take Back Our Schools campaign formula could have yielded better results. Raising money for Carlisle in 2024 will prepare us for success in 2025.

We are looking for partners to help us be successful here in 2025.

Where Does the South Middleton Board Stand?

Only two of the candidates in South Middleton (Sophia Bounds and Devin Flickinger) filled out the Take Back Our Schools candidate survey. Devin won one of five spots. We do not know where the others stand on Take Back Our Schools issues.

We need South Middleton community members to hold their candidates accountable and help us recruit candidates for 2025 who are not afraid to say where they stand on the Woke agenda. Reach out to us to find out how you can help!

Camp Hill Conservatives Get Blown Out

After a successful, hard-hitting Take Back Our Schools primary campaign, Take Back Our Schools PAC was asked not to help in the General Election.  The results are sobering.  Conservatives got crushed by incumbent Woke-sympathizers. We need candidates in 2025 who are not afraid to campaign on the anti-Woke agenda and be truthful about what is happening in Camp Hill.