Three Bismarck School Board members easily retained their positions on the board, after residents Tuesday came out to show their support for the board and its decision to close Richholt Elementary School.

"The numbers are echoing what we heard in the community," said Sonna Anderson, one of the recalled board members. "We made a tough decision, and the community showed that they supported us, even if they didn't agree with our decision."

Anderson collected 5,698 votes, while Save Our School candidate Serenus Hoffner got 2,233. Christine Roszkowski, who was running independently against the two, tallied 301 votes for the race to finish a term that ends in 2004.

Board member Dan Kuntz was the top vote-getter with 5,735 in the race for two seats with terms ending in 2006, followed by incumbent Marcia Olson who had 5,658. SOS candidate Audrey Cleary came in a distant third with 2,788 votes, while Lori Steckler got 2,318 votes.

Business manager Ed Gerhardt said 8,753 people turned out to vote, which was less than the record 10,421 people who voted in the last election involving just the school board.

"Earlier in the day I was hoping for more than 8,000 to turn out," Gerhardt said. "It was satisifying to get this many. It was a good representative, especially for a special election."

The defeat put an end to a 10-month effort by the SOS committee to keep Richholt open. The committee was formed after the board unanimously voted to close Richholt at the end of this school year. The committee started a petition drive in December to recall Kuntz, Olson and Anderson.

Steckler said in an interview in November with the Bismarck Tribune that the committee chose to recall those three because of the lack of consideration they gave to community members and parents, and because they were on the board the longest.

Steckler, caught in the emotion of a 10-month ride, fought back tears Tuesday night when considering the fact that Richholt may still close.

"Regardless of what happens, I'm happy to give the people a voice," Steckler said. "The power of the voice is the most important thing. The people had a voice when Richholt was built in 1920 and they deserve a voice about closing it."

The most amazing part of the adventure, Steckler said, is the support that came from all parts of Bismarck, including people with no kids and those with kids in private schools.

"I'm proud of every single person," she said. "I'm really proud to be here."

And that's the main reason Cleary and Hoffner entered the race. They believed in the SOS cause. Hoffner said it was a bit like pulling for the underdog.

"I believe in exercising their rights," he said. "In North Dakota we have a proud history of initiated measures and referendums. It's part of the system and a healthy part."

SOS was successful in another way. The experience of going through being recalled has changed how Kuntz and Olson said they will operate in the future.

"I think it is going to make me more sensitive," Kuntz said. "I am also humbled by the trust people put in us to make a hard decision."

Anderson wasn't able to exactly express how the election has changed her.

"Anytime you meet a challenge like this you grow," Anderson said.

Although the results of the election won't be official until Friday when the board will meet to canvass the returns, Gerhardt said it is safe to say the incumbents will complete their terms.

By Tuesday night, 740 absentee ballots were returned to the district, which surpassed the record of 497 set in the 1995 election. Gerhardt said it is hard to compare the two years because absentee voting laws have been loosened so people no longer have to prove they won't be in town on the day of the election. District officials are still waiting for more absentee ballots, but Gerhardt said the district isn't many more.