By Debbie Robinson

news@joplinglobe.com

MIAMI, Okla. — Severe storms Tuesday night may have kept voters away from the polls throughout Ottawa County.

Only about 6.4 percent of eligible voters cast ballots for school board positions in Commerce, Quapaw, Fairland and Afton, officials said.

Commerce: Kenny Smith ousted incumbent Ricky Brown by a vote of 145-79 for a seat on the school board.

Smith could not be reached for comment.

Quapaw: William D. Nichols narrowly defeated Troy Howard Thompson by a vote of 48-44.

Nichols could not be reached for comment.

Superintendent Dennis Earp said Nichols will be sworn in during the March board meeting for a five-year term.

Fairland: Voters returned school board president Mark Detherage to his seat. He beat Lisa Severe 136-93. For Detherage, 47, a farmer, the election will mean his third five-year term.

Detherage, a father of two children in the district, said his desire is to continue to help his children.

He cited the budget as one of the challenges facing the board. The district recently lost funding for a federal program, the 21st Century Grant, which provided money for after-school and summer programs, and for a bus to take students home.

“I don’t see that ever coming back,” Detherage said.

Afton: Voters returned an incumbent to the board. Samuel Grant Victor Jr., current board vice president, defeated Rebecca Anne Hallett by a vote of 200-20.

Victor was unavailable for comment.