Two incumbents and a former board member won seats on the Cassville School Board in the April 4 election.
Of the 2,927 votes cast across 11 precincts, incumbent Dr. Chad Johnson was the overall winner with 690 votes (23.57 percent). The bigger winner, however, may have been Chad Yarnall, who secured 666 votes (22.75 percent) to return to the board after falling by 12 votes in his 2022 re-election campaign, when four candidates ran for two positions. Incumbent Jon Horner retained his seat in the third position with 579 votes (19.78 percent).
On the outside this election was five-term incumbent Becky Henningson with 432 votes (14.76 percent); Carroll Craig II, who had verbally withdrawn from the race, with 347 votes (11.86 percent); and Jana Cash with 213 votes (7.28 percent).
Johnson said nearly reaching 700 votes was a surprise.
“I’m a little flattered,” he said. “After my last election, it was flattering to be the top vote-getter. I’m happy with the turnout and things swinging this way, and I’m excited for the next three years on the school board.”
Johnson joined the board in 2020, filling a seat left uncontested by David Haddock. His most recent election was for Barry County presiding commissioner, where he took second place by 62 votes, or 1.23 percent of the three-man race.
“Losing by 62 votes just leaves a scar,” he said.
Yarnall said he was pleased with the turnout of this election, which came in at 37.2 percent.
“I was very excited for the turnout, whether they voted for me or someone else,” he said. “I was extra excited to have the community jump behind and support me like they did, and I look forward to working with a great group and stepping back into something I was part of for six years.”
“I also want to thank everyone for the messages and calls [on Wednesday]. I heard from people on my messaging apps, in their posts or in texts, and it was overwhelming to have so many reach out.”
Horner said the election win is a memorable one for him, both in regard to history and to his efforts over his last four terms.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve a fifth term, which is a rare thing in the history of our school,” he said. “I think only five people have been elected five times, so I’m very grateful for the opportunity to continue.
“I have also been an advocate for the performing arts center over the last 12 years since I started on the board, so to see the bond get passed and to be able to see the project be completed, I am very happy about that. that impact on the students and the community is very gratifying.”
Henningson said she was content with the result, and she is proud of her years of service to Cassville.
“I already had in my mind if I wasn’t up there it would be OK, and I’m fine with it,” she said. “I’ve been on for 15 years and seen a lot of the buildings we’ve been able to do, like both FEMA buildings and reconstructing the vintage wing into the Wild Academy. We also dealt with the flooding in the intermediate school, the Success Academy is one of the best programs we’ve done for our kids, and I’m glad the performing arts center bond passed.”
Henningson’s exit from the board leaves only one woman among the seven members in Jill LeCompte.
Cash said despite the result, she was pleased with the election and thanked the voters.
“While I was hoping for a win and to be a Cassville School Board Member, the community’s voice was heard, and I am very proud to say that,” she said. “I’d like to congratulate the winners and say thank you to everyone who came out to vote, and especially to the community members who believed in me. I appreciate every single one of you.”
