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Mesquite Independent School District elections (2015)
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Two seats on the Mesquite Independent School District Board of Trustees were up for general election on May 9, 2015.
In the Place 6 race, incumbent Christina Hall lost to challenger Elaine Hornsby Whitlock. Place 7 incumbent Phil Appenzeller ran unopposed to win re-election.[1]
The Mesquite Board of Trustees also put a $280 million bond package to voters in this election, which included renovation projects, repairs and routine maintenance, technology upgrades and annual capital outlay.[2] The measure was approved after approximately 77 percent of voters supported it.[3]
About the district
Mesquite Independent School District is located in Dallas County, Texas. The county seat of Dallas County is Dallas. Dallas County was home to an estimated 2,480,331 residents in 2013, according to the United States Census Bureau.[4] Mesquite Independent School District was the 30th-largest school district in Texas, serving 38,287 students during the 2011-2012 school year.[5]
Demographics
Dallas County outperformed the rest of Texas in terms of higher education achievement in 2013. The United States Census Bureau found that 28.6 percent of Dallas County residents aged 25 years and older had attained a bachelor's degree, compared to 26.7 percent for the state as a whole. The median household income in Dallas County was $49,481, compared to $51,900 statewide. The poverty rate in Dallas County was 19.1 percent, compared to 17.6 percent for the entire state.[4]
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Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Voter and candidate information
The Mesquite Board of Trustees consists of seven members elected to three-year terms. Each member is elected to a specific position but represents the entire district. There was no primary election, and a general election took place on May 9, 2015. Two seats were on the ballot in May 2015.[7]
School board candidates submitted paperwork with the school district secretary by February 27, 2015. Each candidate must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter and a resident of the district for at least six months. Members filed two campaign finance reports with the district clerk prior to the election unless they did not receive or spend $500 during the campaign.[8]
Elections
2015
Candidates
Place 6
- Christina Hall
- Incumbent
- Reservation agent
- Elaine Hornsby Whitlock
- Graduate, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University at Commerce and Texas Women's University
- Retired educator and administrator
Place 7
- Phil Appenzeller
- Incumbent
- Graduate, Evangel University and the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law
- Lawyer
Election results
Place 6
| Mesquite Independent School District, Place 6 General Election, 3-year term, 2015 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Elaine Hornsby Whitlock |
53.6% | 2,840 | |
| Nonpartisan | Christina Hall Incumbent | 46.4% | 2,456 | |
| Total Votes | 5,296 | |||
| Source: Dallas County Elections, "Joint Election - May 9, 2015," accessed May 9, 2015 These election results are not official and will be updated when certified results are available. You can submit certified results by contacting us. | ||||
Place 7
| Mesquite Independent School District, Place 7 General Election, 3-year term, 2015 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Phil Appenzeller Incumbent |
100% | 4,004 | |
| Total Votes | 4,004 | |||
| Source: Dallas County Elections, "Joint Election - May 9, 2015," accessed May 9, 2015 These election results are not official and will be updated when certified results are available. You can submit certified results by contacting us. | ||||
Endorsements
No candidate received any official endorsements for his or her campaign during the election.
Campaign finance
No contributions or expenditures were reported as of April 9, 2015, according to the Texas Ethics Commission.[9] The next filing deadline was May 1, 2015.
Texas school board candidates and officeholders must file semiannual reports, which were due on January 15, 2015, and July 15, 2015. In addition, candidates in contested elections were required to file 30-day and 8-day pre-election reports, unless the candidate chose modified reporting.[8]
Candidates in contested elections who did not intend to exceed $500 in contributions or expenditures, excepting filing fees, were eligible for modified reporting. If they exceeded the threshold before the 30th day prior to the election, candidates were required to submit the 30- and 8-day reports. If they exceeded the threshold after the 30th day prior to the election, they were required to file a report within 48 hours of exceeding the threshold and participate in regular reporting for the rest of the election cycle.[10]
Past elections
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2014
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What was at stake?
Issues in the district
2015 bond package
In the May election, voters in Mesquite ISD also approved a $280 bond package. The plans for the bond included carrying out renovations in the district, upgrading technology, larger rebuilding of existing structures and new campuses in the district. Since voters approved the package, property taxes will increase by no more than five cents per $100 of valuation, according to the district. For example, if a homeowner's property is valued at $100,000, it will increase by about $4.16. The district's last bond election was in 2007 and addressed similar expenditures for seven years.[2][3]
Key deadlines
The following dates were key deadlines for the Mesquite Independent School District election in 2015:[8][11]
| Deadline | Event |
|---|---|
| December 29, 2014 | Deadline to post notice of candidate filing deadline |
| January 28, 2015 | First day to file for place on general election ballot |
| February 27, 2015 | Last day to file for place on general election ballot |
| March 4, 2015 | Last day to withdraw from ballot |
| March 10, 2015 | First day to apply for ballot by mail |
| April 9, 2015 | Last day for voter registration with county clerk |
| Campaign finance report due | |
| April 27, 2015 | First day of early voting |
| April 30, 2015 | Last day to apply for ballot by mail |
| May 1, 2015 | Campaign finance report due |
| May 5, 2015 | Last day of early voting |
| May 9, 2015 | Election Day |
| May 20, 2015 | Final day for canvassing of votes |
| July 15, 2015 | Campaign finance report due |
Additional elections on the ballot
- See also: Texas elections, 2015
The election on May 9, 2015, shared the ballot with other municipal elections in Dallas County.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Mesquite + Independent + School + District + Texas"
See also
| Mesquite Independent School District | Texas | School Boards |
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External links
- Mesquite Independent School District
- Dallas County Clerk
- Dallas County, Texas
- Texas Secretary of State
Footnotes
- ↑ Dallas News, "Contested mayor races in Arlington, Mesquite top Dallas-area cities’ ballots," February 27, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mesquite Independent School District, "Mesquite ISD Board Calls $280 Million Bond Election," accessed March 18, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dallas County Elections, "Joint Election - May 9, 2015," accessed May 9, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 United States Census Bureau, "Dallas County, Texas," accessed February 11, 2015
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "ELSI Table Generator," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Dallas County," accessed February 2, 2015
- ↑ Mesquite Independent School District, "School Board," accessed March 6, 2015
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Texas Ethics Commission, "2015 Filing Schedule for Elections Held on Uniform Election Dates," accessed January 21, 2015
- ↑ Texas Ethics Commission, "Search Campaign Finance Reports," accessed April 10, 2015
- ↑ Texas Ethics Commission, "Campaign Finance Guide for Candidates and Officeholders Who File with Local Filing Authorities," September 1, 2013
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2015 Election Dates," accessed January 20, 2015
| 2015 Mesquite Independent School District Elections | |
| Dallas County, Texas | |
| Election date: | May 9, 2015 |
| Candidates: | Place 6: Incumbent, Christina Hall • Elaine Hornsby Whitlock Place 7: Incumbent, Phil Appenzeller |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
