One of the two Peoria Public Schools board races remains tight after 100% of precincts have reported.
Sarah Howard, a mother of two special needs children, leads financial planner Doug Shannon by 44 votes [3,017-2,973] to replace Larry Ivory and represent the Northern District of the seven-member board.
Andy Diaz showed a commanding lead over David Daye [2,130-1,450] in the race to fill the vacancy caused by the departure of Lynne Costic in the board’s Central District.
If Howard is able to maintain the lead, she and Diaz will join the board of Peoria Public Schools during a time of transition.
Superintendent Sharon Kherat is retiring this summer. The school board in January hired former district administrator Jerry Bell to replace Kherat in July, and Renee Andrews will assume the newly-created role of deputy superintendent.
Grocery tax
Voters in Peoria Heights overwhelmingly rejected a grocery tax by a 487-184 margin.
The Peoria Heights city council placed the advisory referendum on the ballot after Mayor Matt Wittington vetoed the tax last September.
