Incumbent Brookhaven School District Trustee Carl Aycock andchallenger Tommy Sproles qualified before Monday’s deadline to seeka spot on the city school district’s governing board.

Aycock is one of two board members who are elected to representcitizens outside of the city limits, but who are within thedistrict’s boundaries. He has served two five-year terms and wasunopposed when he sought re-election in 2002.

“I feel like I’ve served the voters of our district well, and Ihope to continue to do that for the next five years,” he said.

Not all of the decisions in the past 10 years have been easyones, Aycock said, but he voted his conscience.

“There’s obviously tough decisions that have to be made and I’vetried to make those decisions that were in the best interests ofthe children of our district,” he said.

Sproles said his father, John “Dub” Sproles, sat on the boardfor more than 10 years and “it’s in my blood.”

“I’d like to follow in his footsteps,” Sproles said.

The decision to run now, he said, was a matter of timing and notbecause he opposed the incumbent’s decisions while on theboard.

“I believe Mr. Aycock is a good man and I hate to run againsthim,” Sproles said. “I’m just at the right age and I feel, as acitizen, if I can help with the school system, I would like to doit.”

Board members serve five-year terms.

“Each year a board member is either up for re-election or up forappointment,” said Superintendent Lea Barrett.

Three members of the board are appointed by the Brookhaven Boardof Aldermen.

The city school board will set a place for voters to cast theirballots and voting hours during Tuesday night’s board meeting,Barrett said.

The board will also officially set the date of the election,although state statute mandates the first Saturday in March for theelection, Barrett said.