Nurse, former state rep and widow of late board member run to fill Horry Schools seat
A nurse, a former state representative and the previous board member’s widow are in the running to fill a vacant seat on the Horry County school board.
The board was left without a district 3 representative after board member Ray Winters died of COVID-19 complications in August. The board will interview three candidates to replace him: nurse anesthetist Ann MacDonald, business owner Michael Ryhal and Tracy Winters, office manager and widow of Ray Winters.
The candidates will be interviewed at a special meeting of the board Nov. 1 and the board will discuss the contents of the interviews in executive session, meaning the contents of that part of the meeting won’t be public. The appointment will be voted on at the end of that meeting, and the new board member will be sworn in Nov. 8, ahead of the Nov. 14 deadline. The appointed board member will serve until the regularly-scheduled election in 2022.
Here’s what you need to know about each candidate:
Ann MacDonald
MacDonald was raised in Tabor City, North Carolina, and says Horry County has a “uniqueness” that she feels called to serve, according to her application. MacDonald has children at Carolina Forest High School and Ten Oaks Middle School.
“Participating in fundraisers, school field trips to Myrtle Waves, dances, AAST’s trick or trunk and the like, there is an outpouring of volunteerism,” MacDonald wrote in her application. “It is vitally important to keep the dialogue between parent(s) and school so that together we achieve a greater impact on our children’s success.”
MacDonald’s husband was in the military during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and she “had no choice other than to rely on the support of the community,” leading to an appreciation of community involvement, she wrote.
MacDonald attended the University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill and Murray State University for degrees in nursing and nurse anesthesia.
Michael Ryhal
Former South Carolina state representative Michael Ryhal is also gunning to fill the district 3 vacancy. Ryhal works at Pike Engineering and owns an Italian restaurant in Conway. His three daughters attended Horry County Schools for a nine-year span, according to his application.
In his application, Ryhal outlined his various experience in the legislature and as the legislative liaison for Coastal Carolina University, saying his government experience and familiarity with local concerns make him well-suited to fill the role.
“I believe one of the most important foundations of a strong community is a good education system,” Ryhal wrote in his application. “With the growth we’re seeing throughout the county, our schools will continue to be challenged in all aspects.”
Ryhal earned an electrical engineering degree from Geneva College in Pennsylvania.
Tracy Winters
Tracy Winters, an office manager and parent of an Horry County Schools graduate, is looking to fill the seat left vacant by the death of her husband, Ray Winters.
“I want to be a voice for district 3 as well as all of the Horry County students, teachers, and administration,” Winters wrote in her application. “I want to be a part of a board that is diversified but that also works cohesively for the betterment of our school district.”
Winters has worked on the School Improvement Council and the parent-teacher organization at Ocean Bay Elementary, according to her application. She was also part of the booster club at Carolina Forest High School and sponsored the “student of the month” program following the death of her husband.
Winters attended Faulkner University, earning an associate of applied science degree.
