By DANIEL HERATY
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS – Trustee Sandra Rich was returned to office in Tuesday’s Westwood Community Schools Board of Education election.
Rich and Don Willis were the top vote-getters in a three-person race, where a total of 558 votes were cast.
Rich received 263 votes, about 47 percent of the total. Willis was second with 208 votes, or about 37 percent. Mario Fundarski was third with 84 votes, or about 15 percent.
Terms for Rich and Willis will begin July 1 and run until June 2015. Sarah Ward, who was running to fill the remaining term of Issac King, who resigned in October, also will begin July 1. Her term expires in June 2013.
“I’m happy about it,” said Willis, who ran promising to fight for education. He said he has no immediate plans for his term in office, and that he looks forward to sitting down with the board and working to improving the district. He said he will work hard to make sure students in the district receive a quality education.
Willis, a longtime district volunteer, said he believes it will be strong again.
Fundarski, 66, said he will continue to be active in the community.
“I congratulate the winners,” he said. “I wish them well in doing a good job for the schools.
“I’m very grateful to all the people in Dearborn Heights for voting for me.”
District Supt. Susan Carnell supports the decision. She agrees with Willis that the board will do its best to give students a quality education.
“Westwood is a forward-moving district, and the newly elected and re-elected members believe in providing students educational opportunities that will prepare them to find success at the next level,” she said in an email.
Rich did not respond to an email seeking comment on this story.
In the Crestwood School District Board of Education elections, Kevin Sauve led the way with 880 votes, Donna Ancinec received 860 and Lynne Senia got 806. Terms for all three begin July 1 and expire in June 2015.
(Daniel Heraty can be reached at [email protected])