A flurry of last-minute filings by candidates for the Howard County Board of Education means that a primary election will be held in April.
Ten Howard County residents filed to run on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing the field of candidates to 15.
, there were just five candidates who had filed to run for the school board.
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A field of eight or fewer candidates would have meant they all advanced to the general election in November.
Three seats are open on the seven-member board.
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All three incumbents—Allen Dyer, Ellen Flynn Giles and Janet Siddiqui—have filed to retain their seats.
They will be challenged by 12 candidates seeking to unseat them.
The online list of candidates available Wednesday night was updated at 9:22 p.m.
As of that time, the Maryland State Board of Elections website listed the following school board candidates:
Jim Adams, Ellicott City
Corey Andrews, Elkridge
Bob Ballinger, Ellicott City
Olga Butler, Elkridge
Ann DeLacy, Columbia
Allen Dyer, Ellicott City
David Gertler, Ellicott City
Ellen Flynn Giles, Laurel
Patricia S. Gordon, Ellicott City
Owen Hanratty, Ellicott City
Leslie Kornreich, Hanover
Mary Jo Neil, West Friendship
Jackie Scott, Columbia
Janet Siddiqui, Columbia
Kelly Casey Van Horn, Columbia
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