John P. “Sonny” Thomasson was elected to the Covington County School Board Place No. 1, defeating longtime school board member John H. Clark, by a vote of 3,867 to 3,655.

The 202-vote lead will put Thomasson, the current mayor of Sanford, in a county role.

Thomasson retired from education after serving 36 years – 18 of which was principal of Straughn High School.

Clark had served on the school board for more than 30 years, and is the co-owner of a local, family-owned trailer manufacturing business.