After a runoff tabulation on Wednesday morning, Benjamin Grant and Sarah Lentz have been confirmed as winners of two at-large seats on the Portland School Board.  On Tuesday night, after the first round of counting, Lentz held a lead of 35.9 percent to Grant’s 24.6 percent, while Stacey Hang was in third with 14 percent of the vote.  At the conclusion of the tabulation on Wednesday, Grant led by a hair, with 55.7 percent while Lentz was a close second, at 55.3 percent.  Stacey Hang came in third.

Portland saw low turnout, as is usual with June races, with around 14 percent, or just over 8,500 ballots cast.

Lentz and Grant, both parents of students in Portland Public Schools, expressed to the Press Herald on Wednesday that they were excited to get to work.  “There is a steep learning curve…as a candidate you have ideas, but I have a lot to learn” said Grant on Wednesday.  Lentz said that she’s excited to join the board and wants to work with members to keep equity as a priority of the board and district.

The two at-large members are stepping in to replace Roberto Rodriguez and Anna Trevorrow, who left the board last November after being elected to the City Council.

Grant and Lentz will be back up for election in November.