Julie Hadden has been appointed to the South Whidbey School District Board of Directors.

At a special meeting Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the South Whidbey Elementary School community room, the school board voted unanimously to elect Hadden as the new district 2 board member.

Candidate Jordan Nelson withdrew his candidacy earlier in the week, citing “other commitments.”

Hadden and Nelson were both vying for the position. Each was interviewed by the board at a meeting last month. Board members were unable to make a decision between the two and the voting repeatedly resulted in a tie. Board members Rocco Gianni and Damian Greene voted for Nelson while board members Steve Scoles and Linda Racicot voted for Hadden.

Hadden attempted, at one point, to withdraw her candidacy, stating her reasoning that Nelson was an equally qualified candidate. Her request to withdraw was dismissed by Racicot who joked, “nope, out of order,” and asked that Hadden remain in the running, which Hadden did.

The board decided to seek the assistance of Jerry Jenkins, superintendent of Education Service District 189, who was to interview both candidates and provide the board with a recommendation. Those plans were dissolved following Nelson’s withdrawal from the running.

“Thank you for your stepping up, the both of you, and thank you for being here to fill a very important position,” said Greene, as he cast his vote for Hadden.

“It was hard getting people out there, and we had two good candidates,” Gianni said. “I still stand with the belief that we need a parent on the board. They are our customers and their kids are our consumers… I stand by that, and I’m not going to change on that. But I want to welcome you.”

Hadden will be attending an upcoming conference in Spokane with fellow board members, which she said she is sure will be an “informative and inspiring” experience.

“I’m familiar with the California side of things and I’m looking forward to the learning the Washington perspective on some of the same issues,” she said.

Hadden will serve until the next election in November 2015.