The other incumbent in the race, current vice president Michael Crowder, was third in the voting, with 3,084 votes.
Nearly 5,000 paper absentee ballots were not included in the vote totals as of this newspaper’s deadline. The Butler County Board of Elections reported technical issues with the scanning process of the paper ballots.
Once counted, those votes could impact the final results of some races. Visit Journal-News.com today for the latest election results.
The three will start their four-year terms at the board’s scheduled Jan. 11 organizational meeting, when they will take the oath of office and a president and vice president are elected for 2016.
Failing to win election in the five-way race were Lori Parks, who polled 3,025 votes, and Johnny Cole, who finished with 1,492.
“I’m looking forward to serving on the board and helping with the future of the school district,” Otto said after the vote totals were completed. “I look forward to working with the other members of the board.”
Otto has lived in the Talawanda District for 27 years. He has worked in accounting and finance for 30 years, 27 of them at Miami University, and he currently holds a school treasurer’s license.
Butterfield has been a member of the Talawanda Board of Education since 2004, including six years as vice president and six as president.
He was born and raised in Milford Twp. and is a Talawanda High School graduate.
“It was a close race with all good candidates,” Butterfield said. “I’m excited about the board we have moving forward. Dr. Crowder is a very strong board member and I’m looking forward to Mr. Otto being added to our team. I believe the financial success and performance of our district has great momentum, with this board it will certainly continue.”
Butterfield continued, saying, “I look forward to the next four years and what will be accomplished. I would like to thank everyone that supported my position as to operating the district as a business.”
Crowder has been a district resident for 21 years and is a two-term incumbent on the board. He currently serves as vice president. He is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Miami University and has served as department chair.
Crowder was unavailable for comment by press time.
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