Republican Stanley Elrod is top fundraiser in crowded WS/FCS Board of Education race

One candidate has greatly outraised the rest in the crowded race for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education. 

Republican and former Reagan High School principal Stanley Elrod brought in more than $34,000 during his bid for a seat on the board. That's pretty significant in a race where 13 of the candidates raised less than $1,000 each, according to the most recent publicly available filings. 

Democrat Deanna Kaplan was the second-highest fundraiser, bringing in about $18,000. Kaplan is one of four incumbents vying for reelection. 

Five candidates received out-of-state donations, including Elrod. Democrat Trevonia Brown-Gaither received the most, with five donations totaling $335. Democrat Richard Watts accepted three. Republican Sarah Absher, incumbent Democrat Alex Bohannon, and Elrod accepted one each. 

A total of 28 candidates are vying for nine seats on the board.

Five Democratic candidates are running in District 1. The top two vote-getters in the primary will win seats. 

In District 2, four of the ten Republican candidates will advance to the November general election to face Jennifer Castillo, the only Democrat running in the district. The top four vote-getters in that race will win seats. 

And 12 candidates are vying for three at-large seats. The top three primary vote-getters from each party will compete in the general election.

Polls for the primary election are open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.