McGraw Overwhelmingly Wins School Board Seat

Amanda McGraw hugs her family after learning of her victory Tuesday evening.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – In an election marked with very light turnout, Amanda McGraw defeated Elaine Fontana for the Oskaloosa School Board Director District 1 seat. Unofficially, McGraw pulled in 145 votes (81%) to Fontana’s 33 votes (19%). There was also one write-in vote. Turnout in Tuesday’s special election was around 1%.

After the results were announced by Mahaska County Auditor Sue Brown on Tuesday evening at the courthouse, McGraw said that she was humbled by the decision of voters and that the results signified that the parents of Oskaloosa students had confidence in her as a candidate: “It’s emotional for me because that means a lot- the confidence of our parents.”

McGraw said that her first priority after she takes her seat on the board will be getting caught up on the inner workings of the board and learning about how the board operates. “I think there’s a lot to learn about it,” McGraw said. “There’s just a lot to learn that first year.”

She also said that she would be doing research into activities in the state legislature to learn how the actions of the legislature affect school districts. “I think there’s a lot to just research and find out what’s going on now in the Capital and the State House,” McGraw said.

McGraw believed that her hometown roots in Oskaloosa and Mahaska County is what pushed her over the top in Tuesday’s election. “I think that probably helped a little bit,” she said.

McGraw is expected to be sworn in at the next regular meeting of the Oskaloosa School Board. Results from Tuesday’s special election will remain unofficial until canvassed by the Mahaska County Supervisors.