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Theron Long
Theron Long was the District 5 member of the DeSoto County Board of Education in Mississippi. His seat was up for general election on November 4, 2014. Long was first elected to the board on November 2, 2010.[1] Theron Long lost the general election on November 4, 2014.
Biography
Theron Long is a resident of DeSoto County, Mississippi. Long earned his undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University. He spent 44 years as a teacher, coach and principal at Hernando High School in the DeSoto County School District before he retired. In his career as an educator, Long helped to racially integrate the district in 1970 and he earned the Mississippi Principal of the Year award for the 1990-1991 school year.[2]
Elections
2014
The election in DeSoto featured one seat up for general election on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Theron Long ran against challenger Sarah Doss Thomas for the District 5 seat. This was a rematch of their 2010 battle for the same seat, which Long won.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan |  Sarah Doss Thomas |
55.1% | 3,551 | |
| Nonpartisan | Theron Long Incumbent | 44.7% | 2,881 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.2% | 16 | |
| Total Votes | 6,448 | |||
| Source: DeSoto County Election Commission, "Official Results," accessed December 29, 2014 | ||||
Funding
The DeSoto County Circuit Clerk does not publish and freely disclose school board candidate campaign finance reports.
Endorsements
Long did not receive any official endorsements for his campaign during the election.
2010
| DeSoto County School District, District 5 Special Election, 4-year term, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Theron Long |
37.3% | 3,705 | |
| Nonpartisan | Robert Leslie Flinn | 25% | 2,483 | |
| Nonpartisan | Sarah Doss Thomas | 22.4% | 2,224 | |
| Nonpartisan | Sandra Kelso | 14.9% | 1,481 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.4% | 43 | |
| Total Votes | 9,936 | |||
| Source: DeSoto County Circuit Clerk, "Summary Report," accessed September 10, 2014 | ||||
Campaign themes
2014
In an interview with the DeSoto Times Tribune, Long pointed to supplemental raises for teachers and the absence of new taxes since he joined the board as key accomplishments. He also expressed frustration with Common Core, labeling it a federal mandate and stating, "I had nothing to do with bringing it here. Unfortunately, our funding and accreditation depend on it."[2]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Theron + Long + DeSoto + County + School + District"
See also
External links
Footnotes
| 2014 DeSoto County School District Elections | |
| DeSoto County, Mississippi | |
| Election date: | November 4, 2014 |
| Candidates: | District 5: • Incumbent, Theron Long • Sarah Doss Thomas |
| Important information: | Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
