RALEIGH, N.C. — Republican Bill Fletcher lost the race for state school superintendent 11 months ago, though he held up the results in courts for months.

Now, after Tuesday's election, Fletcher is on his way out after 12 years on Wake County's Board of Education. He placed third in District 9, after political newcomers Eleanor Goettee and Curt Stangler.

Stangler could request a run-off because Goettee won about 48 percent of the vote and not 50 percent, which would have given Goettee an outright win.

"Well certainly I'm a little disappointed in the outcome," Fletcher said. "But I am also appreciative of the people who have supported me for the last 12 years."

Fletcher said the prolonged battle over provisional ballots in the race against June Atkinson for state superintendent may have turned off the voters in Wake County.

"Politically, it was not the smartest thing to do. I knew that when I did it, but I've never made decisions on political expediency," he said.