Mar 28, 2013 2 min read

Two people have dropped out of the race for seven of nine seats on Ringgold School Board, but the ballot remains crowded for the spring primary.

Gwendaline St Cyr of Union Township and Gail Glaneman of Eighty Four notified the Washington County Elections Office by Tuesday’s deadline that they were withdrawing from the race, county records show.

Several incumbents who planned to seek nominations for more than one seat have pulled out of select races. All of the remaining 14 candidates have cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican tickets.

District officials have said interest is high in the race because of an ongoing debate about whether the district needs a new middle school or should retrofit closed elementary schools in Donora and Monongahela.

The ballot for Region I, which represents Donora and part of Carroll Township, will ask voters to pick one candidate, either incumbent Larry Mauro or Donald A. Bartoe.

Incumbents Carol Flament and Robert Smith are vying for one vacant seat in Region II, which represents Monongahela, New Eagle and portions of Carroll.

Frank Turko and Maureen Ott will battle for one vacant seat in Region III, which includes Nottingham and Union townships and Finleyville.

Four candidates are seeking one at-large seat on the board, which carries a two-year term in office. They are Matti Gruzs, Jason Gerard, Mauro and Flament.

Seven people have filed petitions for three vacant at-large, four-year terms. They are incumbents Charles Smith, Christopher Carroll and William Stein and challengers Elizabeth Brough, James Dodd, Sherrie Garry and Bartoe.