Voters chose both Girardeau school board incumbents during elections Tuesday.

Incumbents Bob Blank and the Rev. William Bird were re-elected, and newcomer Sharon Mueller, who moved into the district in February 1998, was elected.

In all, eight candidates vied for three, three-year positions on the school board. Besides seats occupied by Blank and Bird, a three-year position formerly occupied by Steve Wright was also available.

Wright resigned from the board to accept a position at the vocational school in December.

Blank and Bird topped all competitors, receiving 3,046 and 2,957 votes, respectively. Mueller received 2,613.

Others receiving votes were Tina Trickey, 2,518; Debra Mitchell-Braxton, 1,638; Gary McIntyre, 1,894; Marty Clay, 1,259; and Andrew Ostrowski, 998.

Mueller is a dental hygienist. She and her husband, Ken, have two children. Her daughter attends Alma Schrader Elementary School and her son attends Central Junior High School.

Mueller said she is ready to face the challenge of adopting new elementary school boundaries and handling the business of the district.

"I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge," she said. "I've just always been involved in education. Hopefully my background working with education will help me."

Bird is completing his first term. He works as pastor of Greater Dimensions Church of God in Christ. He and his wife, Rose Mary, have four adult children and a son who attends parochial school.

Bird said an April vote is possible on the redistricting issue.

"We'll just probably be getting together and really get serious about getting this thing settled so we can get on with other pertinent issues," he said.

Blank, who is completing his second term, is president of Bi-State Oil Co. He said he was delighted with his re-election and is ready to get past the redistricting issue.

"I think we're stumbling over things that are of more concern to the parents than to the children," he said. "Kids will adjust in three days, parents will adjust in three months."