Newcomer Holly Taylor will capture the Stonehouse seat on the Williamsburg-James City County School Board and oust incumbent Jim Nickols, according to unofficial election results.
Vote totals from the Virginia Department of Elections show Taylor leads the ballot count with 1,931 votes, or 53.67, as of 9 p.m. Nickols has earned 1,654 votes, or 45.97 percent.
Taylor will join two new faces on the school board, along with Sandy Young (Berkeley) and Jim Beers (Roberts).
All election results are considered unofficial until a formal results review, which begins tomorrow, is completed and all provisional ballots are counted.
Taylor, who ran as an independent for the nonpartisan board, celebrated her victory at Williamsburg National Golf Club with the James City County Republican Committee.
“I’m very excited and I’m ready to work with the citizens of James City County and represent Stonehouse,” Taylor said. “I’m ready to listen and work closely with them to make our schools the best they can be and be of assistance.”
Taylor, a paraeducator in the York County School Division, said she decided to launch a campaign for the Stonehouse seat after community members encouraged her to run. In an interview with WYDaily, Taylor said she would aim to enhance safety in schools by enforcing anti-bullying policies and improving access to mental health services if elected to the School Board.
The Virginia Public Access Project reports that Taylor earned $2,796 in campaign donations while Nickols received $548 as of Oct. 22.
RESULTS
Total:
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| James P. Nickols | 1,654 | 45.97% |
| Holly A. Taylor | 1,931 | 53.67% |
| Write In | 13 | 0.36% |
By Precinct:
Absentee
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| James P. Nickols | 60 | 48.78% |
| Holly A. Taylor | 63 | 51.22% |
| Write In | 0 | 0.00% |
401 – STONEHOUSE A
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| James P. Nickols | 405 | 43.32% |
| Holly A. Taylor | 528 | 56.47% |
| Write In | 2 | 0.21% |
402 – STONEHOUSE B
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| James P. Nickols | 671 | 46.82% |
| Holly A. Taylor | 756 | 52.76% |
| Write In | 6 | 0.42% |
403 – STONEHOUSE C
| Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| James P. Nickols | 518 | 46.79% |
| Holly A. Taylor | 584 | 52.76% |
| Write In | 5 | 0.45% |
Related Coverage:
- Jim Nickols (I), Stonehouse (questionnaire) (profile)
- Holly Taylor (I), Stonehouse (questionnaire) (profile)
- WJCC School Board Candidates Take On New Middle School, Safety In Forum
