JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (Story courtesy of WVLT / WSMV) – A controversial school board member up for re-election in Washington County has lost his bid for re-election.
Keith Ervin’s race to represent Republicans in the Washington County School Board District 1 race follows months of scrutiny over comments he made to a student during a public meeting.
The school board also condemned his remarks, calling his message a “grossly inappropriate comment.”
In May, he was officially charged with assault following the incident. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Friday, less than 24 hours after Washington County Election Commission unofficial results show he came in last place in his race.
What does his loss mean?
Ervin ran against Anette Buchanan and Vince Walters in the Republican primary race School Board District 1. His loss comes after polls showed he was trailing both of his competitors.
Walters received the greatest percentage of votes, at 27.48%, per the unofficial election results. Buchanan received the second-most votes.
But that was only the first part of the race. Mary Grace Wooten ran unopposed as in the Democratic primary for the same seat.
Wooten and Walters will both appear on ballots in November, when Washington County residents will make a final decision on the next councilmember for District 1.
What was the fallout from Ervin’s comments?
During a Washington County Board of Education emergency meeting in April, Ervin apologized for his comments and attempted to explain his motivations.
Ervin read a letter stating that he meant no disrespect or offense to the student for his comment. He explained that he meant the girl was “on a roll” due to her questions during the meeting and had nothing to do with her appearance.
His remarks followed a scathing public comment period, in which community members were outspoken not only against Ervin but also against the other BOE members.
The board voted to censure Ervin, which is essentially a way to publicly decry his behavior. In the same meeting, two school board members suggested he resign.
County leaders said he couldn’t be removed from office because elected officials cannot be fired.
Why was Ervin previously censured?
Ervin has previously faced backlash for inappropriate behavior with students.
According to records obtained by NBC affiliate WCYB, Ervin got in trouble with the board in 2009 after he made a “lewd, juvenile gesture of a sexual nature.” That gesture, the records showed, was made in front of both students and teachers at David Crockett High School.
During that incident, records show that Ervin went into a David Crockett classroom unannounced. At some point during a classroom discussion, Ervin “made a lewd, juvenile gesture of a sexual nature” that the entire class and two teachers witnessed.
Another teacher alleged that Ervin had also used profanity in front of students and that Ervin had harassed him multiple times.
Ervin admitted to making the gesture and using profanity, the records showed, but denied harassment claims. He reportedly said “he guessed he was trying to be 18 again.” He was then censured by the board and was banned from school property outside of public or events or occasions when he would be joined by a senior school system administrator.
