Riley, Wilson win school board election

Barb Riley and Larry Wilson are the winners of Tuesday’s School District 6 Board of Trustees election. Both have been re-elected to three-year terms.

Riley and Wilson, both incumbent, ran against Melanie Nicholas White, Cassandra Schmidt and Brandee Padgham. It was the first school board election in 10 years.

Wilson received 809 votes, Riley 730 votes, White 358 votes, Schmidt 269 votes and Padgham 238 votes.

Riley has served on the school board for 15 years, while Wilson has served for 24.

“Thank you to the community for their continued support,” Riley said, adding that she encourages community members to stay active and involved in supporting schools. “I’ll continue to work as diligently as possible to protect their tax base and improve the schools in their community.”

Riley plans to runs for the National School Boards Association Board of Directors, as well as for a Western Region Representative seat to the National School Boards Association. She said she strongly believes that in order to influence policy changes in Montana, national education policy changes must occur.

Larry Wilson could not be reached for comment before presstime.