By PHIL OSBORNE

Danville Schools Education Foundation

If anyone ever argues to you that their vote “doesn’t count,” just point them to the Nov. 6, 2018, general election in Boyle County. Five men were competing for three seats on the Danville Board of Education. The margin between No. 3 (Glenn Ball) and No. 4 (Aaron Etherington) was one vote. That is not a typo—one vote.

But that was not the only tight race in the county. Brian Wofford won the jailer’s race by 26 votes, with almost 11,000 votes cast; and Judge Executive-elect Howard Hunt bested Gary Childester by only 17 votes with almost 11,000 cast.

Applaud the winners for their victories, but also applaud those who ran close races for their efforts. The electoral process is one of the many things that makes this country the greatest on the planet.

Back to the Danville school board: incumbent Steve Becker, former BOE member Paul Smiley and Mr. Ball will join Lori Finke and Troy McCowan in making up the new board in January. We look forward to working with them to advance the mission of the foundation. And a special thanks to Paige Matthews and Susan Matherly, who chose not to seek reelection. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with you over the past several months.

The foundation board and the board of education are separate organizations, although our mission of advancing the quality of education afforded to all Danville students is paramount to both organizations. As frequent readers of the Advocate, you routinely hear about the board of education. You may not hear as much about our foundation board.

This is the first in a series of “introductions” we’ll make to foundation board members, so you know who the driving forces are to attain success for our efforts to support teachers and students. First in the series is Sam Pollom, the current chairman of the foundation board.

Sam was born and raised in Danville, graduating in 2006 from Danville High School. He attended Hanover College, where he graduated in 2010 with a bachelor of arts. After college, Sam attended the University of Kentucky College of Law, graduating with his juris doctorate in 2013.

Immediately after law school, Sam began working at a mid-size firm in Louisville. He returned to Danville in 2016 and is currently the director of operations and compliance for WealthSouth, the Wealth Management Division of Farmers National Bank.

Elsewhere in the community, Sam is the treasurer for the Boyle County Library District Board of Trustees, and serves as the program director for the Danville Rotary Club.

Sam and his wife, Sarah, live in Danville and have two children, Boone and Davis.

The foundation benefits not only from Sam’s leadership; it also is one of two charitable organizations that share proceeds from the Bill Pollom 5K — named in memory of Sam’s father. We owe Sam and his entire family of note of appreciation for their generosity.

Phil Osborne is executive director of the Danville Schools Education Foundation. Email him at posborne@danvilleschoolsfoundation.org or phil.osborne@danville.kyschools.us.