WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – Several incumbent or longtime school board figures were unseated Tuesday as voters across southern West Virginia cast ballots in county board of education races during the 2026 primary election.
In Raleigh County, incumbent Marie Hamrick finished fourth in the four-candidate race despite three seats being available.
Ron Cantley led the field with 4,528 votes, followed closely by Charlotte Hutchens with 4,484 votes. Larry D. Ford secured the third open seat with 3,971 votes, while Hamrick received 3,468 votes.
In Wyoming County, Allan R. Stiltner and Doug Lester fell short in the race for three open seats. April Hedinger led the race with 1,584 votes, followed by Doug Kennedy with 1,373 votes and James R. “Bob” Cook with 1,215 votes. Stiltner received 884 votes, while Lester finished with 846 votes.
In Greenbrier County, Nicole Ramsey was defeated as Andrew P. Utterback, Jeanie Porterfield Wyatt, and Paula Sanford-Dunford claimed the top three spots. Wyatt received 3,042 votes, Sanford-Dunford earned 3,004 votes, while Utterback received 2,132 votes and Ramsey tallied 2,074 votes.
In Mercer County, three candidates emerged ahead in a crowded eight-person race for three board seats. Keith Gunnoe led with 3,145 votes, followed by Shawn L. Vest with 3,018 votes and Deborah Akers with 2,744 votes. Incumbents Greg Prudich and Mark D. Godfrey were among the candidates who failed to secure seats.
Monroe County’s eastern and central district race saw Evan Brooks defeated in the contest for two seats. Terry Utterback received 1,113 votes and Linda Coffman-Bennett earned 1,031 votes, while Brooks finished with 598 votes.
