Julie Keegan and Charlie Wilson were elected to the Worthington Board of Education on Tuesday, each collecting approximately twice as many votes as Geoffrey Scott.

"Charlie and Julie made a great team," Scott said in conceding the election Tuesday night. "There was very little substantive difference among any of us, but Worthington has done very well for itself."

With 55 of 56 precincts reporting, the vote was Keegan 5,084 votes (40.28 percent); Wilson 5,053 votes (40.03 percent); and Scott 2,485 votes (19.69 percent).

Wilson was the only incumbent in the race. He was appointed last February to the seat vacated by Gary Tyack, who stepped down when he was re-elected as a judge on the Franklin County Board of Appeals.

Keegan was one of five finalists considered by the board when seeking Tyack's successor.

She will replace Robert Horton, who chose not to seek another term on the board.

Keegan said that she and Wilson were not truly a team, but did support each other and hold similar views.

Both said they are looking forward to changes in the classroom over the next four years.

Keegan said she wants to make sure that the community and staff have plenty of input as those changes are made.

"I think there is a desire that we get some innovation in our schools and start teaching for the 21st century," Wilson said.

He said he would like to see some real innovation in the elementary schools, more alternative programs in the middle schools, and curriculum changes in the high schools.

Addressing the needs of special education and of students who speak English as a second language is also a top priority, he said.

"We want to make sure we provide these students with the resources they need to maximize their potential," Wilson said.

He believes the vote indicates that the community is pleased with the direction of the board.

Scott said that Keegan and especially Wilson campaigned harder than he did.

"Charlie campaigned very hard, he walked the district," Scott said. "I did not have time to do that."

Keegan agreed that she prepared for the campaign, and probably won some votes because she is involved in many parts of the community.

"I'm excited," she said on Tuesday night. "I look forward to this and it's exciting to get my chance to serve on the board."

Wilson is an associate professor at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

His two sons graduated from Worthington Kilbourne High School.

Keegan has a law degree and is currently at home. She has four children in the schools.

Scott is an attorney with the Worthington firm of Blaugrund Herbert & Martin. He has one child in the schools and two preschoolers.

Caption: (1) (2) Julie Keegan
(2) By Anthony De Young / ThisWeek
Former school board member Tom O'Leary, left, congratulates Charlie Wilson on winning the Worthington school board seat on Nov. 6.