RICHMOND – Richmond School District patrons will pay for a runoff election following a tie last week between Molly Lieberknecht and Jessica McMillan for a one-year school board position.

The candidates could have opted to flip a coin, rather than go through the time and expense of another election, after each had received 235 votes, or 22.1% of the total in a four-person race April 4. But Ray County Clerk-elect Heather Maulsby said one candidate agreed, and one did not, to a coin flip.

Both candidates had to agree to avoid the runoff.

The estimated cost of the runoff is at least $4,000, Clerk Glenda Powell said Wednesday. The runoff election will be held June 7.

McMillan said she did not see a need for another election.

“I was OK with flipping a coin,” she said. “If the Lord wants me to be in the spot, I’ll be in the spot.”

Lieberknecht described the runoff election as a public benefit.

“Elections and individual votes matter. Too many people have sacrificed to ensure ‘we the people’ have this right and responsibility,” she stated. “I am conflicted about the expense to the school district for a special election; however, the community deserves to have a voice in the final outcome.”