MANSFIELD — Deena Hamilton has been elected the newest member of the Mansfield City Schools board of education.
Hamilton will join incumbents Chris Elswick and Linda Golden, who were both re-elected Tuesday.
Hamilton received 1,782 votes, according to final, unofficial vote totals from the Richland County Board of Elections.
The same unofficial vote totals show Elswick received 1,956 votes and Golden received 1,838 votes.
School district voters selected their top three choices from a slate of five candidates, which also included Rebecca Wayman and current school board member Gary Feagin, who ran as a write-in candidate.
Hamilton, Elswick and Golden were elected to four-year terms that begin in January 2026.
More about the winners
Hamilton works as a case management extender with OhioHealth, where she assists patients and families in navigating their care.
She is also the founder and executive director of Love on a Mission through 2025, a nonprofit organization that provides safe spaces and support for LGBTQIA+ youth and families across Richland County.
“I am deeply honored to earn the trust of our community,” Hamilton said.
“This victory belongs to every student, family, and educator who believes in the power of working together for the future of Mansfield City Schools.”
Elswick will begin his fifth term on the Mansfield City school board in January. He is the owner of Elswick Appliance Repair and an adjunct professor at Ashland University.
He said the work of a school board member never feels complete.
“You always feel like there’s something you need to do (at the end of a four year term),” he said.
“We’re still really concerned over what the funding is going to look like from the state and federal government. As these things happen, we have to constantly adjust.”
Elswick said he appreciates the support of district voters.
“I will continue to work as hard as I can to make sure the district is both successful and financially solvent,” he said.
Golden was appointed to fill a vacancy on the school board in 2019, and was re-elected in 2021.
She spent 17 years as a high school culinary arts instructor, including 13 years at Mansfield Senior High School. She is the owner of Aah Teas concession trailer.
“With my great appreciation and thankfulness to the community for trusting me, I look forward to continuing the work with our superintendent, our treasurer, and my fellow school board members,” Golden said.
“Mansfield City Schools is committed to continuing to improve our students’ academic achievements and planning for the future in order to be the best possible school district for our students and the Mansfield community.”