St. Tammany School Board Election: Six Winners, One Runoff

by | Slidell News & Guides

School room

November 3 Election Brings New Representatives to St. Tammany Parish Schools as District 5 Prepares for December 12 Runoff

The 2026 St. Tammany Parish School Board elections will bring several changes to the parish’s public education leadership. Voters elected three newcomers and returned three incumbent board members to office during the November 3 election, while one remaining race will be settled in a December 12 runoff.

The election included seven contested races among the School Board’s 15 districts. Six candidates secured outright victories after receiving more than 50% of the vote. District 5 remains undecided because none of its three candidates received the majority required under Louisiana’s election system.

These election results will help determine the composition of the board responsible for overseeing public schools across St. Tammany Parish, including campuses serving Slidell, Pearl River, Lacombe, Covington, Mandeville and surrounding communities. Reported vote totals remain unofficial until certification.

Three Incumbents Win Reelection to St. Tammany School Board

Three current School Board members successfully defended their seats against challengers. Their victories will preserve experienced representation in several districts as the board prepares to welcome incoming members.

  • District 6: Amanda Reed MartinSchool Board President Amanda Reed Martin won reelection with 4,654 votes, representing 73.2% of ballots cast in District 6. Challenger Erin Oramous received 1,705 votes, or 26.8%. Martin’s victory allows her to continue representing District 6, although board leadership positions are determined separately from individual district elections.
  • District 7: Isabelle MooreIncumbent Isabelle Moore earned another term after receiving 3,208 votes, or 57.8%. Challenger Ben Banchs received 2,345 votes, accounting for 42.2% of the total. Moore’s reelection maintains an incumbent representative in District 7 as the School Board faces ongoing decisions involving education policy, district spending and school operations.
  • District 12: Michelle HirstiusMichelle Hirstius secured reelection with 3,116 votes, or 61.7%, defeating Heath Panks, who collected 1,933 votes, or 38.3%. The outcome gives District 12 continued representation by its current board member during the upcoming four-year term.

The three incumbents will remain part of a governing body that establishes district policies, approves budgets, evaluates school system needs and oversees the superintendent. Their reelection provides continuity in those responsibilities while other districts transition to new representatives.

Three Newcomers Claim St. Tammany School Board Seats

Voters also selected three first-time winners in contested districts, creating changes in the School Board’s membership. The victories in Districts 1, 9 and 11 mean those seats will be represented by individuals who were not serving on the board before the election.

  • District 1: Geoffrey “Geoff” HingleGeoffrey “Geoff” Hingle won one of the closest contested School Board races, receiving 3,296 votes compared with 3,166 for Brandi Lopez. Hingle finished with 51% of the vote, securing the seat by a margin of 130 ballots. The narrow result demonstrates how a relatively small number of votes can determine representation in a local school district.
  • District 9: Reid MahneReid Mahne won the District 9 contest with 3,517 votes, representing 54% of the total. Opponent Samantha Ronquille received 3,001 votes, or 46%. Mahne’s victory establishes a change in District 9 representation and places another newcomer on the incoming School Board.
  • District 11: Pamela HotardPamela Hotard secured the District 11 seat with 3,054 votes, or 62.1%, defeating Jesse Stephens, who received 1,863 votes, or 37.9%. Hotard will replace the district’s outgoing representative and participate in decisions affecting the parishwide public school system.

The addition of these three representatives creates opportunities for different perspectives during School Board discussions. Each member will hold one of the 15 district seats and participate in votes concerning school system policies, educational resources and financial planning.

District 5 School Board Race Advances to December 12 Runoff

The District 5 election remains the only unresolved contested School Board race following the November 3 vote. Three candidates competed for the position, but none earned the majority necessary to secure an outright victory.

Challenger Tammy Harwell Penton received the most votes, collecting 2,981 ballots, or 42.2%. Incumbent Charles Brandon Harrell finished second with 2,359 votes, representing 33.4% of the total.

Third-place candidate Miranda Buras received 1,730 votes, or 24.5%. Buras will not advance to the next round because Louisiana’s majority-vote election system sends the two highest vote recipients to a runoff when no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.

Penton and Harrell will face each other in the December 12 election. The runoff will determine whether District 5 retains its incumbent representative or elects a newcomer.

District 5 voters will have another opportunity to select their School Board representative, making the December election the final unresolved contest among the seven districts that held competitive races in November.

Eight St. Tammany School Board Candidates Win Without Opposition

Eight additional School Board seats were decided without contested elections because only one candidate qualified in each district. Louisiana election procedures allow unopposed candidates to secure office without their names appearing in a competitive race on Election Day.

Six incumbent members retained their seats without opposition:

  • District 2: Roslyn Hanson
  • District 3: Adaline Villneurve Rutherford
  • District 4: Kalinda Fauntleroy
  • District 8: Mike Peterson
  • District 13: James Braud
  • District 15: Michelle Ruffino Gallaher

Two newcomers also secured School Board positions without facing opposing candidates:

  • District 10: Nichole Balser
  • District 14: Ronald Randolph

These uncontested results mean that at least five of the 15 School Board seats will be occupied by new representatives following the 2026 election cycle. The number could increase to six if District 5 challenger Tammy Harwell Penton defeats incumbent Charles Brandon Harrell in December.

The overall membership changes are significant for the parish’s education leadership because newly elected members will join returning representatives in reviewing school policies, approving financial priorities and considering districtwide improvement projects.

Important Dates for the December 12 School Board Runoff

Louisiana election officials have established registration deadlines, early voting dates and absentee ballot requirements for the December 12, 2026, election. Residents eligible to vote in the District 5 runoff should review these dates before planning their participation.

  • November 12, 2026: Deadline to register to vote in person, by mail or through an Office of Motor Vehicles location.
  • November 21, 2026: Deadline to complete online voter registration through Louisiana’s GeauxVote system.
  • November 28 through December 5, 2026: Early voting period, excluding Sunday, November 29. Voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • December 8, 2026: Deadline to request an absentee ballot for most eligible voters. Requests must be submitted by 4:30 p.m.
  • December 11, 2026: Deadline for parish election officials to receive completed absentee ballots from most voters. Ballots must arrive by 4:30 p.m.
  • December 12, 2026: Runoff Election Day. Polling locations will operate from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Residents can review their registration status, voting district, designated polling location and sample ballot through the Louisiana Secretary of State’s online voter portal. Checking this information is particularly helpful for anyone who has recently moved or updated a residential address.

Voters should also remember that the District 5 School Board contest will appear only on ballots for eligible voters residing within that district. Other December election contests may vary depending on a voter’s address.

Why the St. Tammany School Board Election Matters in Slidell

The St. Tammany Parish School Board plays an essential role in decisions affecting public education throughout the Northshore. Its responsibilities extend beyond individual school campuses and include financial management, educational policies, facilities, employee salary schedules and districtwide planning.

Slidell families with children attending parish public schools are affected by decisions involving classroom resources, student transportation, campus maintenance, safety procedures and educational programs. School Board representatives review these issues as part of their responsibility to oversee the district.

The board also approves annual spending plans and considers expenditures involving school facilities, construction projects and improvements to existing campuses. These decisions can influence how resources are distributed among schools throughout St. Tammany Parish.

Parents and residents in Slidell, Pearl River, Lacombe and nearby communities can follow School Board discussions to better understand proposals affecting their schools. Public meeting agendas, minutes and district policies are available through the St. Tammany Parish Public Schools website.

Residents interested in specific education concerns can identify their district representative, review upcoming meeting agendas and learn about opportunities for public participation. These resources offer a direct way to understand how local education decisions are considered and approved.

What Happens Next for the St. Tammany School Board?

The next major election milestone arrives December 12, when District 5 voters determine the final contested seat. That result will establish the full composition of the incoming 15-member School Board.

The election has already confirmed five incoming representatives who did not previously hold their respective seats. Their participation alongside returning members will shape future board discussions and decisions, although individual policy priorities will become clearer through official meetings and recorded votes.

School Board members will continue overseeing districtwide matters such as spending, school facilities, employee policies and educational planning. Residents can monitor meeting schedules and published agendas to track proposals and decisions affecting their communities.

Slidell-area families seeking updates on public education can follow the St. Tammany Parish Public Schools website and the Louisiana Secretary of State’s election resources for verified information regarding board membership, election certification and upcoming voting opportunities.

 

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