Incumbent Brookhaven School District board member Carl Aycock islooking at a third term in office after defeating opponent TommySproles in Saturday’s election.

Only 145 people turned out to vote in the election, which washeld at the Brookhaven High School gymnasium for people who resideinside the school district but outside the city limits.

Aycock, this year’s board president, carried 116 of the votes toSproles’ 29. The announcement was made around 6:30 p.m. after thepolls closed at 6 o’clock.

Officials and candidates alike had hoped for betterparticipation in this year’s election after last year’s was low aswell.

“I’m a little disappointed in the overall turnout,” saidSproles. “But we’re both grateful to the voters that did turnout.”

Aycock echoed Sproles’ feelings on the voter participation.

“I really appreciate those people who did come to vote,” hesaid. “And I look forward to serving them for another term.”

In spite of the low voter turnout, city school officials feltboth candidates were good ones for the job.

“We had two capable candidates,” said Brookhaven SchoolsSuperintendent Lea Barrett. “I look forward to working with Carlfor another five years.”

Aycock said he plans to continue the work the school system hasbeen doing blazing a trail towards higher academic achievement forstudents.

“Our main focus is still going to be student achievement,” hesaid. “And we plan to continue that through testing programs likethe ones we’re implementing now.”

Barrett said Aycock is not only a strong board member, but onewho has a heart for the children of the school district.

“He’s got the children’s best interests at heart and has done agreat job in the past,” she said. “I know that he will continue thegood work he’s been doing for our district.”

Aycock has served on the school board for 10 years. Sproles saidwhile losing is never fun, he couldn’t have lost to a betteropponent.

“Losing to Carl is like losing to Michael Jordan in basketball,”said Sproles. “It’s not bad to lose to an opponent as respectableand qualified as Carl.”