Education

It’s official: Blankley edges out Arnold for Wichita school board seat

Ben Blankley won the District 1 seat on the Wichita school board by fewer than 100 votes, according to official election results posted Monday.
Ben Blankley won the District 1 seat on the Wichita school board by fewer than 100 votes, according to official election results posted Monday. File photo

It’s official: Ben Blankley was elected to the Wichita school board, unseating incumbent Betty Arnold by fewer than 100 votes.

According to official election results posted Monday, Blankley garnered 7,766 votes to Arnold’s 7,682, securing him the District 1 seat by 84 votes.

The two had been separated by 123 votes after last Tuesday’s election.

Blankley, 34, is an engineer at Spirit AeroSystems and the father of a 2-year-old. His campaign focused on improving transparency and family engagement and expanding the district’s pre-kindergarten program.

Arnold, 68, was seeking her third full term on the Wichita school board. Her term will expire Jan. 8.

Suzanne Perez Tobias: 316-268-6567, @suzannetobias

This story was originally published November 13, 2017 at 4:35 PM with the headline "It’s official: Blankley edges out Arnold for Wichita school board seat."

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