Incumbent Mossi White didn't want to prematurely accept the victory that seemed obvious from 9 p.m. on election night but did say she was "very, very excited" and "honored that the voters" might entrust to her the future of their children in the Provo District.
At 11:30 p.m., with 100 percent of the vote counted and 69 percent of that vote going to White, she said she "really appreciated the voters.""I see it as an approval," said White, who said she believes patrons in the Provo City School District like the general direction the board is taking, feel they are being heard and have confidence in their decision-makers.
"What I really see is an opportunity to continue to be a team member and a chance to work hard to ensure a good education for every child in the district," White said.
School Board President Kenneth Matheson said no one works harder than White and he is thrilled to have her back on the board.
"She's knocked on every door. She's met every voter she can. I don't know of anyone who works harder on an election," said Matheson.
"She's a tremendous influence all over the state. I'm just very pleased to have her serve again."
Newcomers Gerald Williams and S. Russell Jacobson battled it out a little more fiercely in the race to fill incumbent David Weight's vacant seat.
Williams pulled ahead after 3,500 votes were counted and cleared the final hurdle with a lead of 2,564 votes, tallying 60 percent of the total over Jacobson's 1,688 votes.
Williams is a professor of law at Brigham Young University and an expert on conflict resolution and mediation.
He was handpicked by Weight to run for the position and feels "very pleased" with the victory, although he said the precinct would have been well served with either candidate.
"It's quite a responsibility," said Williams. "I'm going to have to work very hard. I noticed in one of the other stories about school board members, someone said it took him two years to learn the job. So I'm certainly going to be in the learning mode."