Incumbent Kathleen McGervey held off two challengers for her Ohio Board of Education seat.

With more than 90 percent of the precincts reporting results Tuesday night, Ms. McGervey of Avon had 85,041 votes, or 42.54 percent, defeating Kim Redfern from Catawba Island, who had 71,691 votes and 35.86 percent, and Ray Young of Huron, who had 43,166 and 21.59 percent.

First elected in 2010, she keeps her position representing District 2, which includes Lucas, Wood, Ottawa, Erie, Huron, and Lorain counties and the majority of Fulton County.

The board develops policy on statewide education issues. The governor appoints eight of its members, while 11 are elected within districts.

While the race was nonpartisan, Ms. McGervey is a Republican, and faced an organized challenged by the Democratic Party. Ms. Redfern is the wife of Chris Redfern, a state representative and chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party.

Ms. McGervey supports the repeal in Ohio of the Common Core State Standards, and is a proponent of school choice, including home schooling, charter schools, and school vouchers.

She said Ohio approved Common Core under duress, as the federal government offered money in exchange for its acceptance, and states were cash strapped at the time.

She also said said she believed Senate Bill 5, which weakened public unions’ bargaining rights, was an overreach, though she said she could not remember how she voted on the referendum that ultimately repealed the law.

Mr. Young was the lone candidate with education experience, as he was a longtime teacher and principal before he retired.

He is also a Republican, though Ms. McGervey was the endorsed candidate.

Contact Nolan Rosenkrans at: nrosenkrans@theblade.com, 419-724-6086, or on Twitter @NolanRosenkrans.

First Published November 5, 2014, 7:23 a.m.