Despite awaiting sentencing on federal theft and embezzlement charges for taking more than $300,000 in Twin Buttes' school money, former board President Melissa Starr still collected 27 votes in Tuesday's school board election in Twin Buttes.

A total of 114 votes were cast.

Votes for Starr were not enough to win her a new position, which could have been interrupted by a prison term anyway, or forced the governor to hold a removal hearing.

Starr, the former board president, resigned from the school board before she could be removed from office by Gov. John Hoeven, who has statutory authority to remove corrupt public officials. Weeks after resigning, Starr then put her name in play for a new, three-year-term.

Starr said she put her name in the hat mainly to see if she could, and then was unable to have it removed because of state law.

"I was never campaigning," Starr said Tuesday. She said she discouraged people from voting for her.

Starr and six others - three former board members and three school employees - will be sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bismarck in September. All seven pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal and embezzle nearly $700,000 in school funds.

Winners in Tuesday's election were Bessie Starr, Melissa Starr's aunt, with 55 votes, and Travis Hallam, with 47. They'll serve three-year terms.

Other candidates and their vote totals were Doyle Bell, with 38; Lyndon Fredericks, with 22; Joe Benson, with 22; Vernette Greaves, with 4; and Geneva Kazena, with 2.

Darcy Medicine Stone, with 64 votes, and Merlein Sorensen, with 39 votes, were elected to two-year terms. They beat out three others who were also on the ballot; Ardyss Morsette, with 37 votes; Ivetta Spotted Bear, with 35 votes; and Darnell Sorensen, with 29 votes.