Newcomer Steve Barrera and incumbents Jaime Arredondo, Alice Upshaw Hawkins and Don Clark have the lead in the Corpus Christi ISD school board races, according to early voting returns.

Votes cast on Election Day are still being counted. Early voting returns were released shortly after the polls closed.

The Corpus Christi Independent School District board of trustees is responsible for governing the school district, approving budgets, policies and procedures.

Four seats were open on the school board, including three at-large seats and one single-member district seat.

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Only three incumbent school board members ran to keep their seats — at-large candidates Clark and Upshaw Hawkins and District 2 candidate Arredondo. Current trustee Jane Bell did not run for reelection. Also on the ballot vying for at-large seats were Barrera, Michael Bergsma, J.R. De La Garza, Samuel Aundrá Fryer and Pooja Bindingnavele.

The three at-large candidates with the most votes will win a seat on the board. Voters could pick up to three candidates.

Here’s what percentage of the vote each candidate had in early voting returns:

  • Steve Barrera: 23.25%
  • Michael Bergsma: 10.37%
  • Don Clark: 15.11%
  • J.R. De La Garza: 13.78%
  • Samuel Aundrá Fryer: 6.60%
  • Alice Upshaw Hawkins: 17.50%
  • Pooja Bindingnavele: 13.39%

Arredondo was challenged by candidate Penny Kaminski. The top vote-getter will win the seat.

Here’s what percentage of the vote each candidate had in early voting returns:

  • S. Jaime Arredondo: 52.91%
  • Penny Kaminski: 47.09%

Bond for school consolidations, upgrades

A majority of people who cast early votes opposed CCISD’s $135.4 million bond proposal.

If approved, the bond package would fund a new consolidated Yeager Elementary School, a renovated and consolidated Houston Elementary School, fine arts improvements and additions and improvements to Haas Middle School and King, Moody and Veterans Memorial high schools.

But according to incomplete and unofficial returns, 63.19% of early votes were cast against the measure.

Votes are still being counted.

Winners in the school board races and the fate of the school bond will not be known until all the votes are counted. Complete but unofficial returns are not expected for several hours.

Results will not be official until the election is certified.

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Before you vote, know where Corpus Christi ISD school board candidates stand on the issues

alan@flooddigital.co November 5, 2024 0 0