A long-serving Brookhaven school board member will not seekre-election in March.

 

    The five-year term of current board president Carl Aycock expiresin March, and an election for his seat will be held March 3 from 1to 6 p.m. in the Brookhaven High School Gym.

    Aycock is concluding three terms and 15 years on the board. He saidhe will be ineligible to seek a fourth term.

    “My dwelling will not be in the proper place,” Aycock said.

    The seat currently held by Aycock represents local residents wholive outside the Brookhaven city limits but inside the Brookhavenschool district. Candidates for the soon-open school board seatmust live within this area.

    Aycock said an upcoming move will put him inside the city by thetime of the election.

    Candidates to replace Aycock may begin qualifying immediately, saidthe school board’s attorney Bob Allen.

    “There is no statute that deals with it so I have taken theposition that they may qualify (now),” Allen said.

    The qualifying deadline is Jan. 23.

    To qualify, candidates should pick up an application at the cityschool district office and return it to the office with 25supporting signatures. Signatures must belong to registered voterswho live within the district represented by Aycock’s seat.

    Allen suggested candidates go a little beyond the minimumrequirement.

    “I recommend that everyone get 35 (signatures) because people willsign your petition and forget that they live in the city or thatthey forgot to register to vote,” Allen said.

    There are five school board members. Two are elected and three areappointed by the Brookhaven Board of Aldermen.

    In the March 2007 election, only 145 people voted. Aycock defeatedchallenger Tommy Sproles, by capturing 116 votes to Sproles’29.

    Allen said turnout has actually increased over the years and heexpects more voters in the upcoming election than in 2007.

    “Twenty years ago, the turnout would be 30 to 50 people,” Allensaid. “Now it will be 400 or more. I would consider that a goodturnout.”