Janison, Garvey, Wright, Young beat longtime educators, officer

Incumbent Terri Janison, newcomer Deanna Wright and administrator Linda E. Young won their races for the Clark County School Board, according to unofficial results late Tuesday night.

Newcomer Chris Garvey was narrowly leading in the race for District B.

The leading candidates competing to govern the Clark County School District were all backed by the Clark County Education Association, a teachers' union.

Falling behind in the votes were three long-time educators: Edward Goldman, associate superintendent for education support services; Ronan Matthew, a retired principal; and Ron Taylor, a middle school teacher.

Janison, who has been on the School Board for three years, beat John Schutt, a Las Vegas police officer, with 71.4 percent of the vote in District E. Schutt trailed with 28.5 percent of the vote with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

Janison said she "liked to believe" that the vote reflected the confidence of the public in the School Board, but she also looked forward to having "new conversations" with board members-elect about the direction of school policy.

Janison said she would continue to be a champion for "empowerment schools."

Young, the district director of equity and diversity, had 66 percent of the vote in District C, with 100 percent of precincts reporting. She congratulated her opponent, Matthew, who had 33.9 percent of the vote.

"We both ran hard for our values," Young said.

With the election over, she said, it was time for "the community to come together to help our students compete in the 21st century."

Wright, a Henderson mom who was endorsed by Mary Beth Scow, the outgoing president of the School Board, led with 55.9 percent of the vote for District A to Goldman's 44 percent, with nearly 100 percent of the precincts tallied.

Garvey, a dental hygienist, was in a squeaker with Taylor for District B. She had 50.5 percent of the vote compared with 49.4 percent for Taylor, with 96.7 percent of the precincts reporting.

Taylor believed he had a chance to win but was "flabbergasted" that Matthew and Goldman were losing.

"I don't know what the public is thinking," he said. "They want PTA moms on the School Board" over experienced educators.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-799-2922.