School board members Gary W. Bauer and C. Scott Stone were re-elected to their third terms yesterday along with newcomer Laura K. Rhodes, a longtime PTA activist who led the pack of six candidates.

With all but an estimated 2,500 absentee ballots counted, Rhodes, 40, of Taylorsville had garnered 27,358 ballots, nearly a quarter of all votes cast. Bauer, 56, of Hampstead was second with 22,698 votes. Stone, 51, of Hampstead came in third with 21,311 votes, beating out James E. Reter, 71, of Westminster, William M. Bowen Jr., 72, of Westminster and John F. Murray Jr., 46, who lives near Mount Airy.

"I'm excited and anxious to get on the board and off the sidelines," said Rhodes, a self-described "professional volunteer" who worked as a psychologist and real estate agent before making nearly a full-time job of helping at her children's schools and working with countywide and statewide PTA organizations. "I still am shocked, and it's still amazing to me that a little stay-at-home mom can come through like this."

Overshadowed by the county commissioners election and the race for a newly created legislative seat in South Carroll, the nonpartisan school board campaign plodded along without the banner headlines, spending frenzies and hectic forum schedule of the board race two years ago. . The low-key nature of this year's race was reflected in voters' nonchalance.

Even informed voters had trouble explaining their choices for the three open seats on the five-member board. )

"I hate it that I didn't know a little bit more about them, but I was surprised to read some of the names in there," said Helen Simpson, 85, of Mount Airy.

"I really liked what I read about Rhodes," she said. "She sounded so sincere and so practical, as if she knew the precise things we really need to do. The other two, I don't remember a thing about."

Sun staff writer Athima Chansanchai contributed to this article.