Adrian D. Anderson, an investment advisor, easily defeated Dr. Sharri L. Coleman, a professor at the University of Oklahoma and a former podiatrist, as the two vied to become the next District 5 school board member.
Board Member Ruth Veales announced earlier that she would not seek reelection and wanted to retire.
Mr. Anderson garnered 557 votes (52.75 percent) to Dr. Coleman’s 499 votes (47.25 percent).
In the two-man race, a third candidate had dropped out of the race.
District 5 spans much of northeast Oklahoma City and Spencer.
Mr. Anderson will serve a four-year term.
Mrs. Veales was elected and has been reelected twice.
Board Member Veales had worked as an executive secretary of the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City for 14 years and currently is an administrative assistant at the Spencer Police Department.
She defeated longtime Board Member Thelma Reece Parks for the District 5 position.
Mrs. Parks died in 2019.
Earlier this year, Board Member Veales was the sole vote against changing the district’s uniform-wearing requirement.
Years ago, she had championed the uniform-wearing requirement, saying at the time it would cut down on gang activity in schools.
She volunteers with the John H. Bowman Youth Camp and the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Academy.
She has three adult children and 13 grandchildren.
During the campaign, Mr. Anderson emphasized that he is a resident of District 5, and that he and his wife have three children.
He graduated from Star Spencer High School and from the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma.
