Primary winner drops out of Washoe school board race
Retired educator Peggy Lear Bowen said Thursday she has withdrawn as a candidate for Washoe County school board from District G.
Her name will appear on the ballot, but if elected “I will not be able to serve,” Bowen said.
Bowen, 58, became emotional when reached by telephone and said she withdrew for “personal reasons.”
“I want to assure you that I am not going away,” said Bowen in a written statement. “In Greek, to be a politician means to offer one’s service. I promise that in the future, I will offer my service once more, and I pray for your acceptance.”
Also running in the district is retired teacher Barbara L. McLaury. In the Aug. 12 primary, Bowen had 5,368 votes to McLaury’s 3,900 in a six-person race.
“I’m shocked,” McLaury said. “I’m very surprised because she’s always been very interested in running and being elected to office. I hope she’s OK. I hope there’s no illness or whatever.”
Bowen has served three terms on the Nevada State Board of Education.
District G covers western Washoe County from Cold Springs to Washoe Valley.
This article originally appeared in Reno Gazette-Journal.
