A retired Army officer has won a two-year seat on the Mt. Pleasant Area School Board, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election.

Republican William Johnson of Mt. Pleasant Township received 51.6% of the vote, while Democrat Kathleen Ceroni received 44.8% of the vote. Ceroni, a retired Southmoreland High School teacher, trailed Johnson by 444 votes.

“I was shocked. I am humbled,” Johnson said of his victory.

Johnson said he campaigned somewhat for the seat, but he believes that his candidacy as a Republican in the school district — which serves Mt. Pleasant borough and township, and Donegal borough and township — played a big role in his victory. But, he said his political views will not be a factor in his tenure on the board.

“The school board should be non-political. My political ideas will have nothing to do with how I act” on the school board, Johnson said.

Ceroni could not be reached for comment.

Four incumbents running for four-year terms on the school board faced no opposition: Brad Coppula, Luann Eckels, Allison Brooks and Eric Poole.

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