Incumbents, newcomer Katie Noel among West Jefferson Hills school board winners

On Nov. 4, six candidates competed for four four-year terms and one two-year term on the West Jefferson Hills school board.

With 20/20 precincts reporting, a total of 17,836 votes were cast for the slate of five candidates vying for four-year terms. Current board president Kimberley S. Finnerty led the pack with 3,772 votes, cross-filed as a Democrat and Republican. Also cross-filed were current board members Kristin D. Shoemaker (3,709) and Adam Rice (3,630). Democrat Katie Noel, a newcomer, garnered 3,541 votes, and Republican current board member Chris Zacur received 3,117 votes. In addition, 67 write-in votes were cast.

In the two-year-term race, Noel also competed and received 52.91% of the vote (3,486) against incumbent Republican Ashley Malley, who got 47% of the vote (3,097). There were six write-in votes recorded in the contest, and a total of 6,589 votes were cast.

Noel will serve the four-year term, while the school board will appoint a member to serve through December 2027. Applications for the appointment were accepted through Nov. 20.