The Warren County Board of Education will be welcoming a new, but familiar, face into its ranks after Thursday’s General Election.

Longtime law enforcement veteran and School Resource Officer captain Jarvis Johnson won the race for the District 2 School Board seat, ousting longtime board member Bill Zechman in a race decided by just 14 votes.

Voters from Christ Community Church and The Redemption Center were eligible to cast ballots to decide District 2’s board member, and it was the only contested race of the three board seats which were on Thursday’s ballot. 

At Christ Community Church, Zechman garnered 209 votes to Johnson’s 195, while at The Redemption Center the tables were turned, with Johnson collecting 134 votes to Zechman’s 106, giving Johnson a total of 329 and Zechman 315.

Johnson, who ran on a platform stressing school safety and improving students’ performance, said  he was proud of the confidence voters showed in him in his first foray into politics.

“I’d like to thank everyone who supported me, and for those who didn’t, I hope to win their support in the future by continuing to serve the people of Warren County,” he said. “I vow to do everything in my power to keep students safe in Warren County, just as I have done in my 24-½ years in law enforcement.”

Tommy Culwell of District 6 ran unopposed and will return to the board, while Matthew Brown will represent District 4 as he was the only candidate on the ballot.