Challenger wins Campbell County School Board seat

Substitute teacher Susan Hogg unseated incumbent Campbell County School Board member Frederick Watson in Tuesday’s election.

Hogg was a finalist for the Timberlake District seat in August 2007 when it became vacant after the resignation of longtime board member Boolie Martin.

Because the vacancy came within 120 days of a general election, the school board appointed a replacement: Watson, a Lynchburg-area attorney.

On Tuesday, the voters chose Hogg. She won by just over 900 votes, garnering 63 percent of the vote. Watson earned 37 percent.

Hogg will join the seven-member popularly elected school board, which currently is comprised of only men.

During the campaign, Hogg said she was committed to Campbell County Schools and felt her education background could help. She said major issues for the division included keeping student-teacher ratios low, overcrowding at some schools, keeping salaries competitive, creating more after-school activities and keep up aging facilities.

When reached by phone Tuesday evening, Hogg said she was pleased with the outcome, thanked her family and wished the best to Watson.

“We spent the day together,” she joked, referring to the campaigning she and Watson did at various precincts during the day. “He’s a good guy and I really do like him. I wish him the best of luck.”

Watson returned the compliment when reached Tuesday. He said he was disappointed, but confident Hogg would do well.

“I would just like to say I enjoyed my year on the school board,” Watson said. “It was a very rewarding experience. I hope Susan gets as much out of it as I did.”

Frederick Watson

Age: 41

Occupation: Caskie & Frost attorney

Family: Wife and two children

Susan Hogg

Age: 43

Occupation: Campbell County Schools substitute teacher

Family: Husband and four children