D.C. State Board of Education has three new members The D.C. State Board of Education has three new members that will start in January. In Ward 3, Ruth Wattenberg will take the seat vacated by Laura Slover. Wattenberg, an education policy consultant, won with just over 7,100 votes. "I can't wait to get to work," Wattenberg said Wednesday morning, while carrying in yard signs from the lawn. She said the issue that resonated most with voters during the campaign was "massive over-testing." "Now I want to get in there and respond to the extreme over-testing and find a way that restores some balance to arts and science and history," she said. Tricia Braun, a PTA president at Key Elementary, had a strong campaign and garnered nearly 6,000 votes. Stephanie Blessey Lilley, a board member at D.C. Scholars Public Charter School, earned 3,859, and Phil Thomas, a physical educator, got 1,799 votes. The Ward 1 race was closer. Laura Wilson Phelan, chief operating officer at an education-related nonprofit, won with 5,674 votes and will take Patrick Mara's seat. THANK YOU to everyone who contributed. I am deeply grateful for your support and hope to serve Ward 1 kids well!" she tweeted Wednesday morning. David Do, a graduate student in urban planning, trailed with 5,002 votes, and civil rights advocate Scott Simpson came in third with 2,398. E. Gail Anderson Holness garnered 2,093 votes and Lillian Perdomo had 1,609 votes. In Ward 6, Joe Weedon, executive director of an education-related nonprofit, won handily with 11,088 votes. Mark Naydan, a teacher in Prince George's County, had 6,387 votes. Mark Jones ran unopposed for another term in Ward 5. He's president of the State Board of Education. The board has less power than it used to since the D.C. Council established mayoral control over the schools in 2007. Its main function is to set policies around graduation requirements and academic standards. It no longer plays a role in decisions about school system facilities, operations and budget. But many of the candidates also see the position as one of key advocacy for school issues in their part of the city.