Stan Patrick won a close race to claim a seat on the BrookhavenSchool District’s board of trustees Saturday, officials said.

Patrick, a partner with the certified public accounting firm ofBaker-Patrick-Miller-White, defeated Dustin Walker, corporateaccount support manager for Cellular South, by a vote of 142 to134.

“I’d like to congratulate Dustin Walker also,” Patrick said. “Heran a good race and for some reason I came out on top.”

There were 279 votes cast for the position currently held by Dr.Prentiss Smith, said Mandy Dann, secretary of the electioncommittee. Three affadavit ballots that were cast were not countedbecause they would not affect the results of the election.

Smith did not seek re-election.

Patrick will take office at the March 29 board meeting and willserve a five-year term.

“I want to work with the board and continue to move forward,” hesaid. “We have a great district and I want to help them provide ourstudents with an education that is second to no one.”

Patrick thanked everyone who supported him and helped in throughhis campaign.

“I couldn’t have done it without them,” he said. “Words justdon’t seem to do it justice.”

Shannon Aker said he and other poll workers arrived at 11 a.m.for the election, which ran from noon to 5 p.m., to receive theirinstructions and be sworn in.

Dot Davis, a poll worker for District Two, was pleased with thenumber of voters in that district. With 15 minutes left in thevoting period, 73 voters had cast ballots there.

“Our box has turned out real well,” she said.

Aker and Dann were both disappointed in the number of youngervoters.

“I’ve seen a couple of college-age kids come in,” but very few18-year-old high school seniors, Aker said.

Dann said most of the voters Saturday appeared to bemiddle-aged.

“The biggest group would be among the 30- and 40-year-olds,” shesaid.