Five candidates vied for four spots on the ballot in the November election for the Freeport Area School Board.

The four candidates who cross-filed as both Republicans and Democrats will move on to the general election, and the lone candidate to file as a Republican will not.

The Freeport Area School District educates students in Buffalo Township in Butler County, and South Buffalo Township and Freeport borough in Armstrong County.

With all precincts tallied, those who voted at the polls gave Freeport resident Melanie Zembrzuski 1,156 votes, which is the top number.

Zembrzuski is a former intensive care nurse and current manager at a worldwide pharmaceutical company.

“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to come out and vote today,” Zembrzuski said Tuesday night. “I really appreciate the support and look forward to the opportunity to run in the November election.”

She said if elected, she will help build a transparent and trusted collaboration between the school board, administration, students, teachers and the community.

“I want to serve as a representative of the community, which includes ensuring that the fiscal responsibility of the public school district is aligned with the goals and vision of the school board and administration,” Zembrzuski said.

The next two candidates were one vote apart, with incumbent Christine Davies earning 1,067 votes to 1,066 votes for newcomer Gary Risch Jr.

Davies, a Spanish teacher, has been on the school board for 12 years.

“I'm happy to continue to do what I say I'll do for the community and do it enthusiastically,” she said.

Risch, the director of commercial sales at a car dealership, served on the Freeport Borough Council for three years.

“I'm excited to move forward with a change in the school board and to help the district grow,” Risch said. “I got out and met a lot of the people in the precincts (Tuesday).”

John Haven, who has been a Freeport Area School Board member for four years, earned 879 votes at the polls Tuesday.

“I appreciate the voters' confidence in me,” Haven said. “I'll continue to fight to keep the people's taxes down. That is my main goal.”

Andrew Vento of Freeport, who registered Republican only, received 614 votes.

Vento owns a small construction and excavation business, but did not specify to the Butler Eagle where he lives.

He could not be reached for a comment.