6 Ellicott City Contestants, 9 Others Join BOE Race

A flurry of last minute filings by candidates for the Howard County Board of Education means that a primary election will be held in April.

Ten Howard County residents filed to run on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing the field of candidates to 15, six of whom are residents of Ellicott City.

Those running include former board member Patricia Gordon of Ellicott City who told the Howard County Times "Anyone who follows the news and follows (the board) on television understands there have been problems with the board getting in sync."

Also running is Jackie Scott, a Columbia resident who previously .   

Less than a week ago, there were just five candidates who had filed to run for the school board.

A field of eight or fewer candidates would have meant they all advanced to the general election in November.

Three seats are open on the seven-member board.

All three incumbents — Allen Dyer, Ellen Flynn Giles and Janet Siddiqui — have filed to retain their seats.

They will be challenged by 12 candidates seeking to unseat them.

The online list of candidates available Wednesday night was updated at 9:22 p.m.

As of that time, the Maryland State Board of Elections website listed the following school board candidates:

• Jim Adams, Ellicott City
• Corey Andrews, Elkridge
• Bob Ballinger, Ellicott City
• Olga Butler, Elkridge
• Ann DeLacy, Columbia
• Allen Dyer, Ellicott City
• David Gertler, Ellicott City
• Ellen Flynn Giles, Laurel
• Patricia S. Gordon, Ellicott City
• Owen Hanratty, Ellicott City
• Leslie Kornreich, Hanover
• Mary Jo Neil, West Friendship
• Jackie Scott, Columbia
• Janet Siddiqui, Columbia
• Kelly Casey Van Horn, Columbia