Big spending leads to big win for Pace in Austin ISD runoffs
December 17, 2014
By Lauren Dixon
The top vote-getters in Austin Independent School District's November election proved victorious once again in the runoff election for three seats. The Texas district was the only one to hold a runoff on December 16, 2014. In November, the candidates in Austin ISD were unable to garner the 50 percent plus one majority in their general election races necessary to win the trio of seats outright. All of the winners who will be welcomed to the board are newcomers, since the incumbents holding the Districts 1, 6 and At-large Position 9 seats did not seek re-election.
In the District 1 race, University of Texas professor Edmund T. Gordon triumphed over minister David Thompson. He garnered 10 percent more of the vote in the runoff election. In November, he led Thompson by about six percent.
Campaign consultant and activist Paul Saldaña narrowly edged out former Austin ISD educator Kate Mason-Murphy to take the District 6 seat. The race was also close in November, in which just one percent of the vote separated Saldaña and Mason-Murphy.
The At-large Position 9 seat went in favor of local business owner Kendall Pace, who came out ahead of educator Hillary Procknow. Pace was the biggest spender in the November elections, raising over $43,000 during her campaign. The unofficial vote totals show Pace defeating Procknow by over 30 percent.
All elected members will officially take office in early January 2015.
Candidates
Note: An (i) next to a candidate's name indicates incumbent status.
|
District 1 |
District 6 |
At-large Position 9 |
See also
- Texas school board elections, 2014
- School board elections, 2014
- School board election wrap-up: Did the Republican wave extend down the ballot?
- Voter backlash down the ballot: Incumbency advantage drops in November's hottest school board races
- Austin ISD heads to runoff for three seats
| |||||
