By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
The filing period for the next Piedmont school board seat has ended, and the incumbent Steven Cox, as previously announced, did not seek reelection.
Neal Cast was the only resident who filed for the school board seat for the five-year term, a Canadian County Election Board official confirmed Thursday morning.
“I am honored to announce my candidacy for the Board of Education in Ward 4,” Cast said.
In a prepared statement Cast wrote, “As a child of two educators and someone who spent the first half of life in the pursuit of higher education, I bring a passion for making our educational system best in class.”
Cast said his family chose Piedmont to raise their children.
“This was based on the quality of education offered and the small-town nature of the surrounding area. For the past 5 years we have been consumers of all the benefits this wonderful community and school district offer. After talking with my family and some trusted leaders in my life, I felt as though it was time to give back to Piedmont for everything that has been given to us,” Cast wrote.
Cast has worked for 20 years as a pharmacist.
“I am excited to transfer that knowledge and commitment to this important role,” Cast wrote.
Cast wrote, “If elected, I will bring the same high level of dedication and expertise to the Board of Education as I do within my career, while working collaboratively with other board members and staff of the administration to make informed, data-driven decisions that support the success of all students. I look forward to engaging with voters, listening to your concerns, and sharing our vision for a brighter future for our schools. Thank you for your support, and I hope to earn your vote.”
Cox has been on the school board since 2014.
“I have served the students, staff, and community of the Piedmont School District for nearly ten years. I ran unopposed in 2014 and was honored to be elected by the voters in 2019. I am grateful that the community trusted me to look out for their interest in the school district,” Cox wrote in a statement to the Piedmont-Surrey Gazette. “I have enjoyed every part of being a school board member. With that said, I will not be signing up for a third term.”
Cox said he will support another candidate, Neal Cast.
“I know that Neal Cast is going to sign up as a candidate. I have known Neal for several years and I believe he will make a great addition to the school board. I will be supporting his candidacy in any way that I can,” Cox wrote in the statement.
Other current board members include Ward 1, President Layne Jones, whose term expires in 2026; Vice President Greg Duffy, Ward 3, whose term expires in 2028; Cox, whose term expires in 2024; Deputy Clerk, Ward 2, whose term expires in 2027 and member Derek Jones, whose term expires in 2025.
In April 2023 the seat held by Greg Duffy was up for election. Duffy was the only candidate to file. Also in April, Derek Jones was the only candidate to file for the Ward 5 seat in a special election to fill that position.
Cast will be sworn-in for his new school board seat in 2024.
The Canadian County Election Board is located at 200 S. Bickford Ave. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and assistants can be reached by calling 405 422-2422.
Read The Piedmont Surrey-Gazette and follow piedmontnewsonline.com for updates to local news coverage.
