Here’s who’s winning in Lexington-Richland 5 school board, bond vote

Voters in Lexington-Richland 5 had two big decisions to make on Election Day. They had to decide the makeup of the school board for the next two years, and whether they want the school district to bond for $240 million worth of school projects.

On the Lexington County side of the district, USC professor Scott Herring led in the early results Tuesday with 39% of the vote, followed by board incumbent Catherine Huddle at 34% and former board member Ken Loveless at 25%. The top two vote-getters in that district will win seats on the school board.

In Richland County, Jason Baynham had a narrow lead over Mike Ward, 50% to 49%.

Ken Loveless had served on the board from 2018 to 2022, when he fell short of re-election by 12 votes.. Huddle had served on the board since 2020. Herring was an unsuccessful candidate for the board in 2022. Current board chair Rebecca Blackburn Hines declined to seek re-election from Lexington County.

In Richland County, board vice chair Matt Hogan also decided not to run for another term.

Voters across the district were giving the go-ahead to a $240 million bond issue, which led with 70% voting yes in early returns.

The $240 million bond issue would lead to the construction of a new school and the expansion or additions of several others. Increasing capacity at existing schools will also lessen the need for rezoning in the Chapin-Irmo district.

The district's previous major bond issue in 2008 was the subject of controversy, including the purchase of a $1.2 million site for a school that was never built after it was determined the site didn't have proper road access for school day traffic.