FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – School Board President Tim Hudson staved off a challenge from a former teacher Tuesday night, as voters re-elected him to represent Fayetteville’s Zone 5.
Hudson defeated former Fayetteville High School debate teacher Tim Hollis 144 votes (73 percent) to 53 votes (27 percent), according to the Washington County Election Commission’s vote totals.
Hudson’s seat was the only Fayetteville School Board spot up for grabs in Tuesday’s elections. He headed the search for a new superintendent this year, ending in the hiring of Paul Hewitt for the job. Hudson has also presided over the board during several years of steady student growth for the Fayetteville School District.
Hollis is a former teacher who was fired last year after school officials said he refused to take anger management classes, following an argument with administrators. The details of that case were never made public.
The challenger said he sought to bring more transparency and accountability to the School Board.
5NEWS could not reach Hudson by phone for comment after the election results were released.
Hollis said he was disappointed by the low voter turnout. Of the 6,287 eligible voters, 197 cast a ballot, he said.
“Democracy can’t function correctly when no one goes out to vote,” Hollis said.
