GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG) – Two new members will be seated on the board of education for the George County School District after winning the midterm election.
Matthew Smith, a veterinarian at George County Veterinary Clinic, defeated incumbent Jessie Ludgood by 916 to 313.
Ludgood, retired from Singing River Electric, was first elected to the District 1 seat in 2016. He currently serves as the board’s vice president.
Unofficial results by precinct:
| Rocky Creek | Multi Mart | Ward | Shipman | Total | |
| Jessie Ludgood | 212 | 35 | 60 | 56 | 313 (25.5%) |
| Matthew Smith | 570 | 100 | 124 | 122 | 916 (74.5%) |
Clanton, a special education teacher and department chair in Pascagoula-Gautier Schools and former director of special education and director of human resources in George Co. Schools, won a three-way race.
Unofficial results by precinct:
| Courthouse | Pine Level | Agricola | Howell | Movella | Total | |
| Maria Clanton | 78 | 197 | 370 | 141 | 127 | 913 (61.9%) |
| David Pritchett | 47 | 80 | 166 | 109 | 67 | 469 (31.8%) |
| Margaret Tyrone | 12 | 22 | 34 | 10 | 14 | 92 (6.2%) |
Both ran on a platform pushing for accountability and transparency while opposing the purchase of a $1.27 million building the board voted to purchase earlier this year to house district administrative offices.
The pair will be seated at the first school board meeting in January to serve a six-year term in office.
