When the final votes were tallied early Wednesday morning, Neal, the spouse of Lemoore City Councilmember Eddie Neal, joined her husband in celebration election night wins when she garnered 424 votes (53.60 percent) to easily get past Sperlich who finished with 349 votes or 44.12 percent.

Incumbent Stephen Todd, in Area 5, was also up for reelection. He has filed for another term and didn’t have an opponent.

Sperlich has been a member of the five-member board since 2014 when she was appointed by the board.

She and her husband, a former commander in the U.S. Navy, have lived in Lemoore many years. He was an Akers Elementary teacher for 17 years. She was the chief business official at Armona Union Elementary School District prior to her retirement. They have two daughters who have gone through the local school systems.

Neal currently has three children attending Lemoore schools. She chose to run for the Lemoore Elementary School Board because she and her husband share the same goals for the education and well-being of Lemoore’s children. “While it is the responsibility of the district to provide its teachers with the necessary tools and training to adequately educate our children, parents must also ensure that methods of accountability are in place for a working relationship. My experience affords me the ability to understand the needs of teachers, students and parents.”

Neal has earned an AA in Psychology from West Hills College and a BA from Fresno Pacific in Business Administration. She is involved in several organizations, including the Lemoore Kiwanis, Lemoore’s Volunteers in Policing, Relay for Life, Lemoore Community Action, and has worked on several committees at West Hills College.