EUFAULA, Okla. -- An election in McIntosh County this week came with a winner, but no one to take the seat.
During a special election Tuesday, voters elected Randy Peterson, the president of the Bank of Eufaula shot and killed during an armed robbery in January, to the local board of education.
Peterson entered the school board race before his death and managed to beat his opponent Chad Burns in the polls. According to the Oklahoma State Election Board, Peterson captured 187 votes, while Burns got 117.
Superintendent Jeanette Smith said she believes many people cast votes for Peterson as a way to honor him.
"I think that absolutely was on a lot of people's minds that that would be a tribute to him," Smith said, "since he did enjoy being on the school board."
Peterson was appointed in July 2015 to fill a vacancy on the school board after another member resigned.
Board members will now have to declare another vacancy, then appoint someone else to fill the seat. Smith expects a replacement to be named by April or May at the latest.
Burns, who owns Chad's Automotive Repair Services in Eufaula, hopes he's at least considered to fill the vacancy since he came in second in the race.
"Whoever they appoint, I'm sure they'll do a fine job," Smith, a father of two, said. "I would have just liked to have been there myself."
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