Principal wins Shelby County school superintendent after race was left off some ballots

Andrew Gunn has emerged victorious in the Republican primary for Shelby County Schools superintendent, securing the seat after a challenging election day marked by initial ballot distribution issues.

A Tight Race

In a closely contested race, Gunn claimed victory with 7,509 votes (51%) over challenger Joel Dixon, who finished with 7,147 votes (49%), according to the Alabama Secretary of State. Voter turnout reached 22% in the county, with 39,540 ballots cast out of more than 180,000 registered voters.

Ballot Disruptions Resolved

Election morning began with concern when some voters reported that the superintendent’s race was missing from their ballots. Shelby County Probate Judge Allison Boyd explained that the error stemmed from precincts split by multiple election districts, leading poll workers to inadvertently issue incorrect ballot styles to certain voters. According to Boyd, 74 votes were cast before the issue was identified and rectified at approximately 7:45 a.m.

"We always strive for perfection in elections and for perfection in everything we do. We have excellent poll workers at that precinct, and it was just simply a human error that was made, and they corrected it as soon as they knew about it," Judge Boyd told 205focus.com.

Gunn actively monitored the situation, using Facebook to urge voters to report any missing races. While some constituents confirmed via social media that their ballots were incomplete, Gunn later updated his followers to confirm that his team had consulted with the probate judge and resolved the issues.

Looking Ahead

Gunn, a veteran educator who has served as principal at Oak Mountain High School for 12 years—with previous leadership roles at Chelsea Middle and Helena Middle schools—centered his campaign on enhancing teacher support and fostering stronger connections with parents and classrooms.

With no Democratic challenger qualified for the race, Gunn is positioned to become the district's next superintendent following the November general election. He is set to succeed current Superintendent Lewis Brooks, who has led the district since 2018.

"We are truly humbled, and we are excited to serve all of our communities," Gunn stated on Facebook. "I look forward to working with Dr. Lewis Brooks during this transition over the next few months, and I am excited about the future of Shelby County Schools."