Armona's school board will retain the same members, according to the results of Tuesday's election. Incumbents Eric Hodson and Gus Amos were elected by local voters for the Armona Union Elementary School District. Five people filed for candidacy in Tuesday's election -- to fill the two trustee seats that were (and will continue to be) held by Hodson and Amos. But the road to Tuesday's election was not a quiet one.

Controversy sparked in the Armona community after candidates Margarita Avila-Alcala and Lisa Madrid Chavarin teamed up in their campaign efforts and distributed fliers to residents. The fliers mentioned that Alcala and Madrid-Chavarin believed the current trustees were "out-of-touch with the needs" of the district's students.

Glenn Estes, Armona school district board president, responded to the fliers, saying they had nothing to do with helping kids.

Jeanette Ardans, a local resident and mother to two district students, also responded to the fliers at a board of trustees meeting on Sept. 25, calling them "erroneous."

Alcala and Madrid-Chavrin again teamed up to respond to the response of Ardans and Estes, in a letter that The Sentinel printed on Oct. 28, mentioning nepotism in that some of the trustees and some of the district employees are related.

Sharon Amos and Karen Estes, district employees and wives of board members of Amos and Estes, responded to the response of Alcala and Madrid-Chavrin, in letters that The Sentinel printed on Oct. 31. In their letters, Sharon and Karen clarified that they had been employed by the Armona district for several years prior to their husbands becoming board members and that they believed the current board was doing a good job.

In the end, Hodson received 31.54 percent of votes, Amos received 26.68 percent, Alcala received 15.95 percent, Madrid-Chavrin received 16.39 percent and Viviana Alapisco received 9.44 percent.

Amos reacted this morning, and said he was glad he and Hodson were re-elected.

"I think we've done some good things at the school and we haven't completed yet," Amos said. "All in all I think it was a good campaign, even though there was some controversy regarding the three female candidates."

Amos added that he was glad more people ran for the seats and showed an interest in the school district. When he ran four years ago, he did so uncontested.

"But I did not campaign (in this election)," Amos said. "So this showed that the people thought Eric and I have been doing a good job. The voters have spoken."

On Tuesday night, after the Kings County Elections Department posted its first counts that included absentee ballots sent in by about 34 percent of Kings County's registered voters, Hodson already had the most votes, with 36.15 percent.

"I'd like to thank everybody that voted for me," Hodson said Tuesday night. "I take pride in my community. I feel we need to take care of the kids and make sure they grow up to be productive citizens."

Alcala reacted this morning to the results.

"I'm glad it's over with and the final standing is what people had to say," Alcala said. "It was a learning experience for me. We learn from our mistakes. I personally do not have anything against the current school board members. Politics are never pleasant. What I intended to do was for the sole purpose of all the students in the Armona schools. I will be working closely with the district as a parent."

Madrid Chavarin also reacted.

"I guess Armona wasn't ready for a change and I hope the voters picked the right ones," Madrid Chavarin said. "The results ain't going to stop me from getting involved with the school and with the community."

The reporter can be reached at 583-2424.

(Nov. 5, 2008)