By Kathryn Reed

Five newcomers will be joining three South Shore school boards.

Keith Byer was the decisive victor on Tuesday night. He easily beat Mike Kiger for the Douglas County School District seat. Byer had 65.88 percent of the vote.

“I’m honored. This is my first election,” Byer told Lake Tahoe News. “I hope to do a great job, to bring some balance to the lake schools, budget items and all the things the board has influence in.”

He spent election night at a fundraiser for Whittell High School’s safe and sober graduation night.

Byer replaces Cindy Trigg who was termed out.

In Lake Tahoe Unified School District the races were closer. Incumbent Mike Doyle barely lost to challenger Bonnie Turnbull in Area 3. Turnbull had 856 votes or 51.69 percent, to Doyle’s 792, 47.83 percent.

Upon winning she plans to first do extensive research, which is “what I always do.”

She wants to get creative so she can lead education to the next level. She mentioned instead of just focusing on test scores, she advocates balancing testing with cultivating the interests of students. She pledged to have community meetings to discuss the issues.

Prior to the election Doyle’s wife told LTN he would not talk to us. And he hasn’t.

In LTUSD Area 1, just a few votes separated winner Larry Reilly and Annie Davidson for much of Nov. 8. In the end it was Reilly winning by 100 votes. He had 739 votes, or 53.36 percent and she had 639 votes, 46.14 percent.

“I am deeply troubled by this presidential election. My own race is feeling much less important,” Davidson told Lake Tahoe News as Donald Trump was winning Nov. 8. She was at Divided Sky in Meyers watching the results, with most everyone paying attention to the presidential race.

Troy Mathews ran unopposed for Area 4 in LTUSD.

Down the street at Lake Tahoe Community College it will be Nancy Dalton filling the seat of Area 4 trustee. She beat Dave Hamilton 927 to 687 votes, or 57.29 percent to 42.46 percent.

“I am just so looking forward to serving on the board,” Dalton told Lake Tahoe News. She has been attending board meetings since the first of the year.

Hamilton all along supported Dalton if voters didn’t support him, saying she will make a good board member.

“I will be involved in other things in other ways,” Hamilton said.