Incumbent Johnston County School Board Member Butler Hall and challenger John Radford were eliminated from the race for the Johnston County Board of Education on Tuesday.
Eight candidates had filed for three seats up for election this year, including seats held by Mr. Hall of Four Oaks, Vice Chairman Dorothy Johnson of Clayton and Todd Sutton of Kenly. The top 6 vote-getters advanced and the two lowest were eliminated from the race. Radford and incumbent Hall will not advance to the November general elections.
The top vote-getter during Tuesday’s Primary was political newcomer Terri Sessoms of Smithfield, a retired educator from Johnston County Schools and former Public Information Officer and Senior Cabinet Member.
In unofficial results, Sessoms received 7,489 votes (21%), followed by incumbent Dorothy Johnson at 5,309 (15%), incumbent Todd Sutton 4,868 (13%), Jason Barbour 4,665 (13%), Jimmy Clapp 4,357 (12%), and Tracie Zukowski 4,310 (10%).
Hall was unsuccessful in his re-election bid with 3,698 votes (10%) and John Radford was unsuccessful with 1,497 (4%).
The names of the top 6 candidates will appear on the November ballot for the three vacant seats.
