Puckett will give up his District 1 seat on the school board, on which he has been a minority voice for neighborhood schools, to represent the same district on the county board. District 1 includes southwest Mecklenburg, the three northern towns of Davidson, Huntersville and Cornelius, and the University City area. Markey pulled what was considered a major upset in 1998, defeating Republican incumbent Joel Carter in the heavily Republican district. The already contentious relationship between the school board and the commissioners could become increasingly strained with the new board. Puckett, who got nearly 54 percent of the vote, says he'll serve as a watchdog of county education spending.
Commissioners also have to approve bond money for school building projects.
Puckett said the commissioners have too often rubber-stamped school funding requests. School board members will choose Puckett's replacement.