AUGUSTA — Ed Hastings was elected Tuesday to the Augusta Board of Education.

Hastings, with 2,823 votes, defeated Holly Kiidli, who received 2,666 votes, according to unofficial totals.

Hastings

Kiidli

Hastings took Ward 1 with 606 votes to Kiidli’s 492, and Ward 3 by a vote of 711-597.

Kiidli took Ward 2, with 631 votes to Hastings’ 586, and Ward 4, receiving 741 votes to Hastings’ 664.

Augusta election workers counted ballots well into the wee hours of Wednesday morning. The count of Ward 2 ballots was delayed by a malfunctioning electronic ballot scanning machine.

Hastings, 58, is a retired marine engineer who has been a board member since he was elected in June 2015 to fill a position that became vacant when the former seat holder, Kimberly Martin, was elected chairwoman of the school board.

Kiidli, 25, said as a mother and taxpayer, she is invested in the development and growth of the school system and in supporting the families of the Augusta area, and wants to make sure tax dollars are providing the best quality education possible. She is a substance abuse prevention coordinator for Healthy Communities of the Capital Area.

Staci Fortunato was elected to the Ward 1 school board spot now held by incumbent Jennifer Day, who did not take out papers seeking re-election.

And in Ward 4, Kati McCormick ran uncontested for a position currently held by Katie Vose, who did not seek re-election.