Denver voters on Tuesday delivered the hotly contested at- large school board seat to union candidate Jill Conrad, considered by many to be an underdog to architect Brad Buchanan.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Conrad had 45 percent of the vote to Buchanan’s 43 percent.
Conrad, who had a $20,000 campaign contribution from the teachers union, said she was “a little surprised” she won.
“I knew the odds were against me,” she said late Tuesday.
An education consultant, Conrad said she will begin this week working on high school reform. “I think I can bring a strong vision to move forward,” she said.
Buchanan, who had raised almost $70,000 by early October, said Tuesday’s loss will not end his involvement in public education. “I’ve been very excited about the fact that there’s so much interest in this race,” he said. “That to me is a great sign.”
He did not rule out running for school board again.
In southwest Denver, incumbent Michelle Moss handily defeated minister Daniel Pierce, and Jeanne Kaplan beat computer consultant Matt Webster for the central Denver seat.
In northeast Denver, board member Kevin Patterson ran unopposed.
Conrad and Buchanan also ran against candidate Dave Lewis, who received 7 percent of the vote. Andrew Karsian, who dropped out in September, received 4 percent of the vote.
Staff writer Allison Sherry can be reached at 303-820-1377 or asherry@denverpost.com.
