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Robert Geske
Robert Geske was a member of the El Paso Independent School District in Texas, representing District 1. Geske assumed office in 2015. Geske left office on May 12, 2021.
Geske ran for re-election to the El Paso Independent School District to represent District 1 in Texas. Geske won in the general election on May 6, 2017.
Geske initially won election to the board in 2013, but he was not sworn into office at the time. Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams removed all elected trustees and replaced them with a board of managers due to a cheating scandal that ultimately led to the indictment of the district's former superintendent Lorenzo Garcia. Geske was appointed to replace the board of managers in 2015.[1]
Elections
2017
Four of the seven seats on the El Paso Independent School District board of trustees in Texas were up for general election on May 6, 2017. In his bid for re-election to District 1, incumbent Robert Geske defeated Mariah Lauritzen. District 3 incumbent Susannah Byrd ran unopposed and won another term on the board by default. District 4 incumbent Diane Dye and former board member Russell Wiggs defeated Timothy Groover, but neither of them received a majority of the votes cast. Because of this, a runoff election was held on June 10, 2017, where Dye defeated Wiggs to retain her seat. The race for the District 5 seat included incumbent Chuck Taylor and challenger Miguel Rueda. Taylor won re-election to the seat.[2][3][4]
Results
| El Paso Independent School District, District 1 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Robert Geske Incumbent |
59.21% | 1,222 |
| Mariah Lauritzen | 40.79% | 842 |
| Total Votes | 2,064 | |
| Source: El Paso County Elections, "May 6, 2017 - Official Final Election Results," accessed June 6, 2017 | ||
Funding
Geske reported $624.00 in contributions and $539.70 in expenditures to the El Paso Independent School District, which left his campaign with $84.30 on hand as of April 6, 2017.[5]
Endorsements
Geske was endorsed by the El Paso branch of the American Federation of Teachers (El Paso AFT).[6]
2013
| El Paso Independent School District, District 1 General Election, 4-year term, 2013 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Robert Geske |
40.9% | 690 | |
| Nonpartisan | Omar Villa | 31.3% | 529 | |
| Nonpartisan | Rocio Benedicto | 27.8% | 469 | |
| Total Votes | 1,688 | |||
| Source: El Paso County Elections, "2013 May Election," accessed February 24, 2015 | ||||
Campaign themes
2017
Geske participated in the following survey conducted by the VOTE411 Voter Guide. The questions provided by the guide appear bolded, and Geske's responses follow below.
Why are you running for a trustees position on the school board?
| “ | I want to be re-elected to finish what I started. We have initiated many programs during the past two years that I need to see to completion.[7] | ” |
| —Robert Geske (2017)[8] | ||
Are you willing to have a student participate on the board?
| “ | School board members need to be elected by constituents in each district. Students could be used in an advisory capacity, but not as voting, participating, members.[7] | ” |
| —Robert Geske (2017)[8] | ||
What is your position on the DACA for children in your school district, should the district offer or continue to offer training for the parents or guardians of the children?
| “ | We have already signed a proclamation supporting the children and their parents. We are committed to do what is legally prudent to assist their parents and guardians.[7] | ” |
| —Robert Geske (2017)[8] | ||
What do you hope to accomplish during your term on the school board?
| “ | Our sole job as trustees is to affect student outcomes in a positive manner. We are obligated to continue our successful programs, research and implement new programs, provide a safe nurturing environment, and make sure the students are taught properly by effective teachers who have the resources to do their jobs properly.[7] | ” |
| —Robert Geske (2017)[8] | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ El Paso Times, "Bob Geske appointed to EPISD Board of Managers," April 17, 2015
- ↑ El Paso Independent School District, "May 6, 2017 Board of Trustees Election," accessed February 20, 2017
- ↑ El Paso Independent School District, "Minutes of Meeting of Board of Trustees February 28, 2017," accessed April 10, 2017
- ↑ El Paso County Elections, "May 6, 2017 - Uniform Election Unofficial Final Election Results," accessed May 6, 2017
- ↑ El Paso Independent School District, "File Browser - Campaign Finance Reports," accessed April 17, 2017
- ↑ El Paso AFT, "EP AFT School Board Endorsements," accessed April 17, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 VOTE411 Voter Guide, "EPISD Board of Trustees, District No. 1," accessed April 17, 2017
| El Paso Independent School District elections in 2017 | |
| El Paso County, Texas | |
| Election date: | May 6, 2017 |
| Candidates: | District 1: • Incumbent, Robert Geske • Mariah Lauritzen District 3: • Incumbent, Susannah Byrd District 4: • Incumbent, Diane Dye • Timothy Groover • Russell Wiggs District 5: • Incumbent, Charles Taylor • Miguel Rueda |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
