MEREDITH — When longtime Inter-Lakes School Board member Mark Billings decided to step down from his seat in July, a parent in the district was waiting in the wings to fill the vacant spot.

Abe Garon, of Meredith, was appointed to the school board on July 23, for the remaining eight months of the first year of Billings' three-year term. In March, the seat will be up for grabs, and Garon said he plans to run.

“My interest in this seat pre-dated my appointment,” Garon said. “I am planning to run formally in March.”

School board Chair Charley Hanson of Center Harbor said Billings was originally planning not to run for reelection last March, but was urged to do so, and ultimately retained his seat. However, in July, Billings notified Hanson he wished to resign, and said Garon would be ready

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