Rene Salinas
Rene Salinas was a candidate for Place 1 on the San Benito Board of Trustees in Texas. He ran for election to the board on May 9, 2015. Salinas lost the election to Michael Vargas.
The winners of the 2015 election joined the district's new superintendent in tackling the consequences of an unbalanced budget. While initially a large reduction in staff seemed necessary to make up for several year's of over spending, other suggested plans hoped to avoid such a cull.
Salinas previously ran unsuccessfully for the board's Place 5 seat on May 10, 2014.
Biography
Salinas is a former San Benito CISD paraprofessional. He and his wife, Beverly, have four children. His wife has been a teacher in San Benito CISD for 15 years.[1]
Elections
2015
Opposition
Three seats of the seven seats on the San Benito CISD Board of Trustees were up for election on May 9, 2015. Incumbent Fatima Huerta ran for re-election to the Place 3 seat instead of her Place 1 seat. She faced Place 3 incumbent Yliana Gonzalez and former Place 4 incumbent Joe Gonzalez on the ballot.[2]
The open Place 1 race featured Michael Vargas and returning candidate Rene Salinas. Orlando Lopez, also a returning candidate, challenged Place 2 incumbent Anna Cruz in her re-election bid.[2]
Vargas defeated Salinas for the Place 1 seat. In Place 2, incumbent Cruz won re-election. Joe Gonzalez defeated Yliana Gonzalez and Fatima Huerta for the Place 3 seat.
Results
| San Benito Consolidated Independent School District, Place 1 General Election, 3-year term, 2015 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Michael Vargas |
60.7% | 1,516 | |
| Nonpartisan | Rene Salinas | 39.3% | 983 | |
| Total Votes | 2,499 | |||
| Source: Elisabeth Cervantes, Email conversation with Public Information Officer for San Benito CISD Isabel C. González, January 13, 2016 | ||||
Funding
Salinas reported no contributions or expenditures to the Texas Ethics Commission as of May 7, 2015.[3]
Endorsements
Salinas received no official endorsements in this election.
2014
Rene Salinas ran against incumbent Hector Leal and challengers Joyce Aguirre and Roberto Benavides on May 10, 2014, for the Place 5 seat.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Hector Leal Incumbent |
54.9% | 1,676 | |
| Nonpartisan | Roberto Benavides | 21.3% | 651 | |
| Nonpartisan | Rene Salinas | 14.8% | 453 | |
| Nonpartisan | Joyce Aguirre | 9% | 274 | |
| Total Votes | 3,054 | |||
| Source: Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Isabel C. González, San Benito CISD Public Information Officer," February 24, 2015 | ||||
Funding
Salinas did not file a campaign finance report with the Texas Ethics Commission.[4]
Endorsements
Salinas received no official endorsements in this election.
Campaign themes
2015
Salinas gave the following speech at a meet and greet with the San Benito Chamber of Commerce and the San Benito Rotary Club:
| “ | When I moved to San Benito in October of 1999, I was at the beginning of what has turned out to be a lifelong journey on my career in education. My wife had just four years earlier graduated with her degree in international business and was giving that up to start her career alongside me in education. My wife and I both attended public schools and believe strong schools are the foundation of a strong community. When the time came for us to start a family, we chose to roll up our sleeves and do so right here in San Benito.
As parents we have learned to set high expectations for our children- whether in their schoolwork, chores, or how they behave as young citizens. In these difficult times, we, like many of our neighbors, have had to sacrifice to live within our means. But we know, no matter how difficult the times, we cannot lower our expectations for our children, or the children of this community. Our children attend school here with San Benito CISD. I have volunteered within the community as a youth baseball coach with San Benito National Bronco and in Los Indios with the NFL Flag Football Program. My wife has worked countless hours with students here in San Benito after hours in programs provided by the district. We have seen firsthand how all students need coaching, mentoring, and examples within the community who can help by setting high expectations. The current financial situation is a major concern and could possibly have a devastating effect on San Benito CISD. Taxpayers are suffering, state funding is disappearing, and the district can no longer operate under the pretense of “business as usual.” We must continue to work to maintain high academic standards while responsibly managing resources amidst what could quite possibly be the worst economic recession here within San Benito CISD. The district must re-engineer its operations in order to keep academic standards high without unduly burdening taxpayers. Compounding the problem, is that our school board, both past and present , have not been able to find common ground, put aside personal agendas, and work together to find a solution. I am not here as a member of any political group, I am not a politician! I am a parent first and an educator second who comes to you as a concerned citizen willing to work to provide the best possible educational experience for our students here in San Benito. My name is Rene Salinas and I am running for The San Benito CISD Board of Trustees Plc. 1. I believe my background and professional experiences within education as a classroom teacher and a coach provide me with the skills needed to tackle the challenges ahead. My experience as a parent as well as an educator, have taught me that we must keep expectations high for all children. Moving forward, the district must examine each program from the ground up and understand how every dollar is spent, and how or whether it is providing the best possible educational experience for our students, after all that is the real reason any of us are here to begin with. Tough decisions will have to be made. We must invest in success, keep our standards high and learn to live within our means. I humbly ask that you join the students of San Benito CISD and the entire San Benito CISD Board of Trustees on this journey![5] |
” |
| —Rene Salinas (2015)[6] | ||
2014
Salinas provided the following statement on his Facebook campaign page:
| “ | My knowledge and experiences in both the classroom and athletic playing fields for the last 17 years qualify me to provide responsible and knowledgeable leadership on the local school board.
I will continue to work hard to show that student achievement remains our highest priority by working collaboratively with the parents, teachers, and staff of San Benito CISD. I believe in high academic standards and school accountability. I will continue to work towards our school districts goals of improving the quality of education that our children receive and that every decision is made with our students and staffs best interests. I will continue to push for the advancement of technology in the classroom as it is clear that technology based education can open additional doors for our students and their future. As a school board member for San Benito CISD I will work to make sure that our students receive the academic skills and training necessary to ready them for the competitive job market of today as well as the readiness needed to prepare them for college.[1][5] |
” |
| —Rene Salinas's Facebook campaign page (2014) | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Rene Salinas San Benito CISD. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- San Benito Consolidated Independent School District
- San Benito Consolidated Independent School District elections (2015)
- San Benito Consolidated Independent School District elections (2014)
- Decreased success for school board incumbents in Texas; 1/3 defeated in largest districts (May 11, 2015)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Facebook, "Rene Salinas San Benito School Board Campaign Place 5," accessed April 7, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Celia Longoria, San Benito CISD Director of Communications," March 2, 2015
- ↑ Texas Ethics Commission, "Search Campaign Finance Reports," accessed May 7, 2015
- ↑ Texas Ethics Commission, "Campaign Finance Reports," accessed April 7, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Facebook, "Rene Salinas San Benito School Board Campaign: Wall Post," April 4, 2015
| 2015 San Benito Consolidated Independent School District Elections | |
| Cameron County, Texas | |
| Election date: | May 9, 2015 |
| Candidates: | Place 1: Rene Salinas • Michael Vargas
Place 2: Incumbent, Anna Cruz • Orlando Lopez Place 3: Incumbent, Yliana Gonzalez • Incumbent, Fatima Huerta • Joe Gonzalez |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
