Too "hyped up" to sleep in this morning, Columbia’s newest school board member, Jan Mees, said she’s still trying to figure out how she garnered the most voter support of three candidates.

Parker Eshelman photo

Above, Columbia Board of Education candidate Jan Mees, center, accepts congratulations from Kari Dowell last night at Jack’s Gourmet Restaurant after reports put Mees in front of a three-way race for two seats on the Columbia Board of Education. Below, Karla DeSpain hugs supporter Charlie Gibbens during her election party last night at Chris McD’s restaurant. DeSpain won re-election to the school board, finishing second.

Nick King photo

"It’s every candidate’s fantasy," Mees said. "I’m very surprised and pleased. I don’t know what made the magic happen."

Mees, who won 37.4 percent of the vote, and incumbent Karla DeSpain, who won 35.5 percent, will fill two seats on the school board. Two-time candidate Michael Tan won 27 percent of the vote.

A former Hickman media specialist who worked 21 years for Columbia Public Schools, Mees tried to explain her strength at the polls.

"I don’t think it was the teachers per se," she said. "I think the community was looking for someone with my kind of experience. … I hope they perceived the way I plan to go about making a decision, looking at all sides of an issue and knowing all of the facts."

Mees dominated the race in campaign financing. She raised more than $14,000, with the bulk of contributions coming from current and previous board members and Columbia Public Schools principals and teachers. DeSpain raised just under $2,000, and Tan raised about $1,200.

G.J. McCarthy photo

Michael Tan and supporters watch partial election results on a television screen last night at Jimmy’s Family Steak House in south Columbia. Tan lost his second bid for the school board.

DeSpain, who will likely continue as board president for another year, said she’s pleased voters sent her back to office and she’s "thrilled" to be able to work with Mees.

While DeSpain said the board needs new ideas, she also said experience will prove key as the district begins work on a third major high school and a new elementary school. "The job has just gotten bigger," she said.

Another new member will soon join the school board. Veteran member Don Ludwig, whose wife, Sally Beth Lyon was named assistant superintendent of curriculum, is submitting his resignation at Monday’s meeting. The school board will open the seat up to applicants for two weeks, interview candidates and make a selection, possibly in June.

Tan said he won’t apply for the post and promised his wife, Rachel, this campaign would be his last.

Tan said he doesn’t regret seeking election again to the board, and he’s happy with the way he ran his campaign. "I ran a good race and worked hard and stayed on top of issues," he said.

Tan said he’s not sure Columbia is ready for the kind of change he promised during his campaign. "Maybe they’re happy with the way things are," he said. "I can’t think of anything to blame."

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