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Incumbent facing challengers for the DISD school board and Dallas College were losing reelection bids by just a few dozen votes, according to unofficial returns.
Possible recounts and outstanding mail-in ballots, which had to be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Saturday to be considered, could still sway the final results.
Dallas ISD trustee Karla Garcia, 25, was 31 votes behind Camile White in their second matchup for the District 4 seat, which represents parts of Southeast Dallas, Pleasant Grove, Balch Springs and Seagoville. Fewer than 1,000 votes had been reported. State law allows for a petition to recount votes if the total number of votes received by all candidates is less than 1,000.
Garcia — a senior associate for College Access and Success at Dallas-based education nonprofit Commit — has served on the board since her 2019 win. (The family foundation for Commit’s founder, Todd Williams, is a supporter of Education Lab.) White, 56, is a former educator and current realtor.
Oak Cliff’s Maxie Johnson and North Oak Cliff’s Ben Mackey, the current DISD board president, ran unopposed.
In the coming months, the trustees will not only tackle how to combat COVID-19 learning loss and build up students’ readiness for college and careers but also must find a new schools leader to replace longtime Superintendent Michael Hinojosa.
Meanwhile in the Dallas College’s District 1 seat — which encompasses North Dallas and Lake Highlands — incumbent Gretchen Minyard Williams, 65, a realtor who has served as co-chairman of Minyard Food Stores, fell behind her competitors. She took over the seat after the death of her husband, J.L. “Sonny” Williams — a Minyard Food Stores president and minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks — who was a longtime Dallas College trustee.
Leading in the three-way race was Catalina E. Garcia, 84, a retired physician, but it is unclear who she will face in a runoff election.
Lynn Davenport, 50, a former professional recruiter, was 33 votes ahead of Williams. State law allows a recount if the difference between the votes for those vying for a runoff spot is less than 10% of the number of votes the person entitled to a place on the runoff ballot, which is the case.
Phill Ritter, the incumbent for the District 2 seat — which represents Oak Lawn, Highland Park as well as Irving and Coppell — was leading against challenger Eugene Robinson.
And in Dallas College’s District 3, Paul Mayer, 72, the Garland Chamber of Commerce’s CEO, was leading against Soji John, 51, who counsels Western Digital Corporation. The two are vying to replace incumbent Dorothy Zimmermann, who did not seek reelection.
Board chair Monica Lira Bravo ran unopposed for District 4, which includes Southeast Dallas, prolonging her tenure.
Newly elected college trustees will be challenged with helping the system bounce back from COVID-19 disruptions that include significant enrollment drops and navigating the system’s consolidation.