2 Sumter school board trustees keep seats, 1 challenger wins back seat

Two Sumter School District Board of Trustees members will keep their seats after defeating their challengers, and a former member will retake his area's seat after defeating the member who won more votes than he did two years ago.

Bonnie Disney secured the votes to serve another term as the Seat 9 representative for Sumter County's school board. According to official results, which were certified on Friday, Disney secured 66.29% of the votes, or 1,843 votes, over Desaray S. Ross' 32.84%, or 913 votes. There were 24 write-in votes.

"I'm just very pleased," Disney said of her win. "I feel like our school board is going in the right direction. I feel like we are comfortable with our superintendent and we know our strengths, we know what we need to do to improve, and we just need to all be on the same page. ... We also need to make sure that we're doing everything we can to keep our teachers and students safe and make our district one of the shining stars in the state, and we can do that. There's no question we can. We just all need to pull together and work as a team, and I look forward to being part of this team."

Disney was appointed by the legislative delegation to fill an at-large seat in 2017. She ran and lost in the general election in the district's former Area 6 race before winning a term in 2022, which was changed to a two-year term because of redistricting and to stagger future races and replacements.

She was recently selected by her fellow school board trustees to serve as chairwoman after the Rev. Ralph Canty stepped down from the leadership position.

Brittany English also secured another term as the Area 2 representative for Sumter County's school board.

She earned 76.96% of the vote, or 2,522 votes, over opponent Chris Patten, who got 22.46%, or 736 votes. There were 19 write-in votes.

"God favored me in spite of my enemies. Thank you, Area 2," English told The Sumter Item.

In the first upset of the Nov. 5 election locally, Brian Alston won enough votes to become the District 1 representative for the school board, earning 58.37% of the vote, or 1,828 votes, over Daniel Palumbo, who earned 41.03% of the vote, or 1,285 votes.

There were 19 write-in votes.

"Thank you, Area 1. Because of you, I am. Let's work together to put students, staff and communities first!" Alston texted The Sumter Item Tuesday night.

Alston lost in 2014 and 2016 for the state House District 50 seat and served a term for the Area 1 seat on the school board after winning in 2018. Palumbo beat him for the seat in 2022.

Though saddened by the results, Palumbo is happy about the accomplishments during his term, from active shooter plans to retaining teachers.

"There's other things in the near future, better opportunities to where I can serve this community even better," Palumbo told The Item. "It's not over yet. You can't get rid of me, so I will be around."

Tallies were to be certified on Friday.

Disney, English and Alston will be sworn in on Monday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m.