In the election Tuesday, the only contested race is that of incumbent Republican Mark Story and Democrat Ezekiel Pettway for the Dallas County School Board District 4 position.

Story intends to continue to work with board members to fairly assess the use of taxpayer dollars, hold students to strong disciplinary rules and be attentive to the needs to the school system.

“There is a learning process, for sure, for [this position],” Story said. “I feel like that it does take some experience to learn to discern, not to be reactionary, but to take a look at things and evaluate what’s good for the entire system, not just what’s good for one particular situation. “

He has served as a member of the Dallas County School Board for 12 years. He is a Selma native, graduate of Selma High School and Wallace Community College Selma, former U.S. Navy Reserves member and currently owns a medical equipment company, HealthMark Home Medical Equipment.

Pettway plans to provide transparency for the public for the upcoming term if he is elected.

“I believe the public needs to know what goes on with the Dallas County School Board and I will do my best to inform them as much as possible because I believe people want someone they can trust,” Pettway said.

He has lived in Dallas County since 1987, served in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard, was a member of the Leadership Selma-Dallas Class XI and has been Senior Pastor of Maggie Street Baptist Church in Montgomery for eight years. He will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Bible and pastoral ministry in December.

“I really love Dallas County, I really do,” Pettway said.

Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday.