With the Aug. 6 primary votes tallied up, the word is in: the Seattle School Board race in District 4, which covers part of Ballard, Magnolia and Queen Anne, is shaping up to be a heated race.

The contest is now boiled down to the two frontrunners, education writer and activist Sue Peters and Suzanne Estey, a government relations and public affairs consultant. The third candidate, former Federal Way Mayor Dean McColgan, is out, only garnering 9.8 percent of the vote. (McColgan raised no money and stated he had no plans of running a campaign unless he made it through the primaries.)

At last count, on Aug. 9, Estey and Peters were neck and neck. At 9,337 votes, Estey is in the lead with 47.18 percent. Sue Peters received 8,390 votes and got 42.4 percent of the vote.

The two are competing to take the vacant seat of Past School Board President Michael DeBell, who has given his blessing to Estey.

While both sides give credit to their volunteers and general community support, the race has one tipping factor going Estey's way: money.

Estey's campaign has raised nearly $55,000 in contributions (including max donations by both Steve and Connie Ballmer), compared to Peters' relatively meager $14,000. In addition, an independent expenditure made on Estey's behalf by "Great Seattle Schools" produced an $8,000 mailer. They mailer painted Estey as the "Candidate for Change" and Peters as More of the Same."

Both Estey and Peters have racked up endorsements.

Estey has been endorsed by the Seattle Times, the 34th and 46th District Democrats, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Rep. Reuven Carlyle, Former Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, outgoing School Board Member Michael DeBell and more.

Peters has been endorsed by The Stranger, State Senator Maralyn Chase, State Representative Gerry Pollet, King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, four of the current school board members, the 32nd, 34th and 43rd District Democrats, Cliff Mass and more.

When it comes to the school board, a lot could be at stake on this race. Peters or Estey will be coming into what has been called a dysfunctional school board. According to the Seattle Times, school board members have said that they have a problem with trusting each other as well as higher ups via anonymous surveys.

Some blame the school board's antics for a high turnover rate which has occurred since the school district fired the late Maria Goodloe-Johnson as superintendent in the wake of a financial scandal. When Interim Superintendent Susan Enfield left for a superintendent job at Highline, rumors flew that the board was to blame.

Several other departures have taken place recently as well, including deputy and assistant superintendents and department heads in teaching and learning, human resources, special education and transportation.

In other words, the school board and the public will have high expectations of whoever gets elected. Either Estey or Peters will be charged with trying to ease tensions on the board, as well as helping push the board in a more efficient and effective direction.