Teacher  Tierra Jolly triumphed over rival Philip Pannell in a low-turnout vote today for the special election for the Ward 8 State Board of Education seat, according to preliminary results from the D.C. Board of Elections.

Longtime  activist Pannell had the weight of much of the ward's establishment behind him, including a  late-breaking endorsement from Ward 8 Councilmember  Marion Barry. Still, Jolly managed to win 49 percent of the vote, while Pannell received 42 percent.