Andrew McKinney is the newest member of the Monona Grove School Board and Marilyn Ruffin maintained her seat on the Sun Prairie School Board in election results from last night.

McKinney was the top vote-getter (29.7 percent) in a four-way race for the Monona Grove School District, which is governed by an elected seven-member Board of Education representing the communities of Monona and Cottage Grove, both located just east of Madison.

McKinney has spent a good portion of his career and adult life teaching students, coaching kids, mentoring young people. In a recent Madison365 interview he said, ““I have been thinking about running for a few years now. There was just a need for it. We have so many underserved kids who just didn’t seem like they had a voice. And I can relate to that.”

Contacted after his victory last night, McKinney told Madison365: “The people of Monona Grove School District have spoken, now it’s time to get things done.”

Incumbent Marilyn Ruffin was the top vote-getter for the Sun Prairie School Board getting 4,460 votes (41.3 percent) in a three-way race with Bryn Horton (3,858 votes) and Paul Kudrle (2,401 votes).

Ruffin is the director of Family & Community Initiatives at One City Schools and a former certified substitute teacher in Sun Prairie and Madison school districts. She is also a member of board of directors for Madison Metropolitan Chapter of The Links and the Mann Educational Opportunity Fund. Ruffin is also an immediate past board member of the Madison Network of Black Professionals.

“To be with my husband and supporters last night as it was announced that I was the top vote-getter in my 2nd term for school board was absolutely priceless,” Ruffin tells Madison365. “I truly appreciate the Sun Prairie community for having faith in me to continue the needed work in our school district and beyond. I am humbled.”