Nancy Highsmith and Tracy McGuire
Prince Frederick, MD – The only 2016 General Election race that was too close to call Tuesday evening, Nov. 8 in Calvert County took a big step toward being called Thursday, Nov. 10. A panel of ballot counters vetted the absentee votes during a five-hour session at the Calvert Elections Office. When the 1,900-plus ballots were tallied, incumbent school board member Tracy H. McGuire had maintained her slim lead over challenger Nancy Highsmith in the Second Election District race. The count did reduce McGuire’s lead by 25 votes, from 185 to 160. There are an undetermined number of provisional and overseas ballots that will be counted next week.
McGuire is seeking her third consecutive term on the Calvert County Board of Education (BOE). She was first elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. McGuire easily won her first election and ran unopposed four years ago.
Challenger Highsmith was principal at Patuxent High School in 2013 when she was appointed acting superintendent of schools following the sudden resignation of Dr. Jack Smith. Earlier this year Highsmith received the endorsement of the Calvert Education Association, the organization that represents the county’s public school teachers.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com