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School Board Race Changes With Mail-in Vote Count

  • by Anna Bedford-Dillow

Mail-in ballots may make all the difference in the tight school board race. Though Terence J. Clegg remains securely the number one vote-getter, in this nonpartisan race the top two vote-getters progress to the general election in November. Last week, after all precincts reported and early voting was tallied, University of Maryland student and former student school board member Alvaro E. Ceron-Ruiz was in second place but, following subsequent mail-in vote counting, Caroline Decaire-Goldin, a former Prince George’s County Public School teacher, a PGCPS parent and Director of Teaching and Learning in the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, was in second place at time of press.

Preliminary results the day after the election placed Clegg ahead with a secure lead and 45.64 percent of the vote, Ceron-Ruiz was in second place with 29 percent and Decaire-Goldin had 25.36 percent, but was only 77 votes behind Ceron-Ruiz.

As of close of business on Tuesday, June 30, Clegg had received an additional 1,157 votes, bringing his total to 3,129 and increasing his share of the vote to just over 47 percent. Ceron-Ruiz had received 455 votes through mail-in ballots, bringing his total to 1,686 (25.34 percent) and Decaire-Goldin received 782 mail-in votes, bringing her total to 1,839 (27.64 percent).

Following election day results, on her campaign’s social media page, Decaire-Goldin had expressed disappointment, thanked supporters and said she woke up, went to work and continued to support policies and programs that support teachers and students. She later told the News Review she was taken by surprise when she saw Saturday night she had advanced in the rankings.

Currently, Decaire-Goldin has a lead of 143 votes over Ceron-Ruiz. However, mail-in ballots continue to be counted, the results are still unofficial and as yet no provisional ballots are included in the tally. A message from Ceron-Ruiz’ campaign said they were awaiting the finalization of votes, as mail-in and provisional ballots continue to be counted.

This year’s election results, which should be totaled within 10 days, must be finalized by Monday, July 6, due to the observance of the July 4 holiday on Friday.

Board of Education candidate Ceron-Ruiz stands on a sidewalk, next to a lawn with campaign signs.
Alvaro Ceron-Ruiz. Photo by Anna Bedford-Dillow.
Black man in white shirt and green tie wearing green baseball cap with Terence Clegg on it.
Terence Clegg
courtesy of Terence Clegg
Two women with shoulder-length hair stand outside. One of them holds a blue and yellow campaign poster.
Board of Education District 2 Candidate Caroline Decaire-Goldin (right) pictured outside the Community Center on election day with her mother, Deanna, on election day. Photo by Anna Bedford-Dillow.