La Plata County voters opted for change to the Durango School District 9-R Board of Education.

Kristin Smith beat Stephanie Moran 56% to 44% on Tuesday night. Smith garnered 5,484 votes to Moran’s 4,380.

Smith, a home health care professional, said she ran to ensure the voice of 9-R parents is represented. Marianna Valdez, who is leaving the board, was the only 9-R parent on the board.

“This whole process has been inspired by my love of the Durango schools,” Smith said.

Smith also said she felt prepared to take on her new responsibilities after spending several months attending school board meetings.

“I do feel like I have a good handle on where the district is at, some of the challenges and some of the great things, too,” she said.

In her new role, Smith will represent District B, the western portion of the school district, for the next four years. Smith will join a board of five and help make big decisions, such as determining whether to ask voters to extend a property tax to fund 9-R building improvements.

Smith became passionate about helping children by working with her son, Asher, a Durango High School student, who has a rare genetic syndrome that caused physical and intellectual disabilities.

Just as Asher has succeeded, Smith said she wanted to help ensure all other students in the district can succeed.

She knocked on doors, answered numerous questions via social media and live-streamed videos to help educate voters as part of her campaign, she said.

“Not for one second did I feel overly confident,” she said.

Moran ran largely on her experience because she has served on the board since 2012 and worked in education for nearly 40 years. Moran said Tuesday night that she wished Smith well on the board.

mshinn@durangoherald.com