School Board Challengers Win Favor of Voters in Webster Groves

Challengers and will join the Webster Groves School District Board of Education, and incumbent will serve another three years on the board, following Tuesday's election.

The candidates competed with incumbent for three open seats on the board. Addison, a vice president and actuary in the Global Financial Solutions Division of RGA Reinsurance Company in Chesterfield, gained slightly more votes than Smith, capturing 22.49 percent of the votes.

"I was ecstatic that I got on," Addison said. "It was a very close race. ... I was disappointed that Emerson (Smith) didn't get on. He's done a lot of good things and, like me, has a strong business background and that would have been useful to the board." Addison added that he hopes Smith will run for a position on the school board in the future and said he would support the former board member if he chooses to do so.

Although Smith said he may run again in the future, for now, he plans to continue to serve the Webster Groves School District as a non-member.

"Just because I lost this particular election, doesn’t mean I can’t continue to serve the district," Smith said. "There are plenty of different committees and projects that I can work on. ... I've been a part of this community for over 28 years. It's not the end of my existence."

Smith said he thanks voters for their support and wishes the winning candidates well. "I hope they serve the district with the whole wholeheartedness and with the focus and dedication that is required," he said.

The other newcomer to the board, Amy Clendennen, who works as an attorney for school districts (which excludes Webster Groves) captured 26.43 percent of the vote.

"All along, I wanted what was best for district, and I think I bring a lot to table, but the victory is bittersweet, because I think we lost a really dedicated board member," Clendennen said referring to Smith. "I'm grateful and appreciative to everybody who came out and supported me."

Incumbent Amy O'Brien won 28.91 percent of the votes and will begin her second term as a board member. O'Brien coordinates undergraduate research programs and community service opportunities at Washington University. She also coordinates professional development for teachers throughout the St. Louis area.

"It's terrific that our community had the opportunity to elect three board members from a list of qualified candidates," O'Brien said. "I was disappointed that the other incumbent, Emerson Smith, wasn't re-elected to the board because he has a great deal of experience and leadership skills that would be an asset to the board.  However, I'm looking forward to working with our two new board members who bring to the board a unique area of expertise in school law and a record of volunteerism in the schools."

In her coming term, O'Brien said she will advocate for local control and fairness in the state's funding of education.

"I really appreciate the voters who came out and participated in the election yesterday, and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve another term on the school board," O'Brien said.

WEBSTER GROVES BOARD OF EDUCATION, THREE-YEAR TERM (THREE SEATS)