Fort Worth-area ISD elections favor incumbents, Keller ISD early returns suggest shake-up

Elections across most Fort Worth-area school districts show voters sticking with familiar leadership, according to unofficial election returns at 11 p.m. May 3. 

But, in Keller ISD, two seats appear to be turning.

Voters there seem to have backed two first-time candidates and an appointed incumbent, all of whom opposed the district’s abandoned plan to split the district.

School board candidates are on the ballot in the Keller, Crowley, Northwest, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Castleberry, Aledo, Burleson, Everman and White Settlement ISDs. 

Here are early voting results:

Keller ISD

Keller ISD voters appear open to new voices on their school board following months of community division over a now-revoked proposal to split the district in two.

Two outspoken critics of that proposal — Randy Campbell and Jennifer Erickson — were each on their way to large victories. Appointed incumbent Chelsea Kelly, who also opposed it, secured a large lead in her bid for a full term. The board has seven seats. 

The Place 1 seat is open after incumbent Micah Young chose not to seek reelection.

In the race for that seat, Campbell, a retired pilot, secured 54.1% of the vote against Marissa Bryce, a parent, who took 23.1%, and education advocate Scott Bruce, who was marked on 22.8% of ballots. 

Campbell is focused on restoring Keller ISD’s financial rating, increasing teacher pay and releasing records tied to the district’s involvement with Texans for Excellence in Education, he said. 

He raised $14,073 in political contributions, though Bryce was the top fundraiser in the race with $20,718 raised. Bruce raised $2,115. 

In Place 2, incumbent Joni Shaw Smith appeared likely to lose her seat, trailing largely behind both of her challengers, according to unofficial election returns at 11 p.m. May 3. 

Erickson, a communications professional, secured 53.9% of the vote.

Jade Holbrook — a Keller ISD parent who received a campaign donation took 24.5%. Smith was marked on 21.5% of ballots. 

Erickson, who raised $18,731, said she wants to keep politics out of classrooms and support educators amid the district’s financial strain. 

Holbrook was the race’s top fundraiser, taking in $20,032 in contributions, including donations from Keller ISD trustee Chris Coker.

Smith raised $2,775.

The race for Place 3 showed incumbent Kelly poised for a full term after her appointment to the board in 2023, as she secured 63.3% of the vote. 

She appeared to beat out parent Nikki Paris, who took 24.3% of the vote and Ed Duncan, who was marked on 8.8% of ballots. Phil Perez, who withdrew from the race April 21, received 3.6%.

While Paris, who also received a donation from trustee Coker, raised $17,545, Kelly raised $3,290 in her campaign. 

Trustees currently serve at-large, meaning they represent the entire district rather than individual geographic areas. But that could soon change. Two federal voting rights lawsuits are challenging Keller ISD’s election structure, arguing that at-large voting dilutes the voice of minority residents. The cases are ongoing.

Crowley ISD

Chakina “CC” Watkins was on her way to defeating Melondy Doddy-Muñoz for the at-large Place 5 seat on the Crowley ISD school board, according to unofficial vote returns. 

As of 10:24 p.m. May 3, Watkins had 52.1% of the vote to Doddy-Muñoz’s 47.9%.

They are competing for a seat being vacated by board President Daryl Davis, who is running for Fort Worth City Council. Doddy-Muñoz ran for school board in 2024, losing to trustee Mia Hall. Watkins is running for office for the first time.

Doddy-Muñoz raised $3,081 for her campaign and is focused on fiscal sustainability, teacher retention and uplifting parent and community voices in board decision-making.

Watkins, a hairstylist, author and counselor, raised $7,610. Her campaign centers on student career readiness, school safety and advocating for families she believes are underrepresented in district leadership.

Gary Grassia is running unopposed for Place 6. Kelicia Stevenson is running unopposed for Place 7.

Northwest ISD

Two seats are on the ballot in this year’s Northwest ISD school board election.

In the race for Place 3, Jeff Dearing and Joe Washam are facing off to replace outgoing trustee Anne Simpson, who did not file for reelection.

Dearing, a financial adviser, raised $1,441. Washam, a veteran, raised $8,275.

Judy Copp, the current Place 4 trustee, is running unopposed.

Trustees serve three-year terms.

Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

T. Craig Morgan was ahead of both of his opponents for the at-large Place 3 seat on the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD school board.

Morgan had 40.12% of the vote, with Trent Hill behind at almost 33.97%. Misty Kieschnick had 25.92%.

The top vote getter will win a seat on the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD school board.

The winner will succeed retiring trustee Tim Daughtrey. Board members serve three-year terms.

Morgan, who works in industrial development, raised $1,950. Hill, a police officer with the Fort Worth Police Department, raised $575.

Kieschnick, a volunteer and retired sales executive, did not file a financial disclosure.

In Place 4, incumbent William Boaz is the sole candidate. Place 5 features only incumbent Steven Newcom.

Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD

John Biggan was ahead of his opponent for the Place 2 seat on the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD school board.

Biggan had 52.1% of the vote to candidate Jay Fitch’s 47.9%. The winner will succeed longtime trustee Dawn Jordan-Wells. 

Biggan is a data scientist, and Fitch is a retiring math teacher.

Biggan raised $5,776, while Fitch raised $8,469.

Incumbents Matt Romero, Becky Ewart and Chris Brown are running unopposed.

Trustees in HEB ISD are elected at-large and serve three-year terms.

Castleberry ISD

Janice Carrell, an insurance manager, was well ahead of her opponent, Kevin Robles, a human resource leader for Tarrant Area Food Bank, in their race for the Place 7 seat on the Castleberry ISD school board.

Carrell had 55.8% of the vote, while Robles received 44.2%.

The Place 7 race is the only contested race, following the retirement of David Holder, who served 24 years on the board.

In Place 5, longtime board member Mary Lou Martinez is running unopposed. Incumbent Cathy Gatica is also unopposed for Place 6.

Trustees serve at-large and hold three-year terms.

Aledo ISD

Voters in Aledo ISD will choose board members for Place 4 and 5. Trustees serve three-year terms, and elections are staggered across alternating years.

In Place 4, incumbent Forrest Collins, an electrician and businessman, faces Jeremiah Stoker, a Lockheed Martin engineer.

The Place 5 race is more crowded, with author and educator Leia Brown; former Aledo ISD teacher Miles D. Lewis; Lynn Morgan, an economist and professor; and pediatric nurse Kelli Stahl all on the ballot to replace outgoing trustee Jennifer Taylor.

Trustees are elected by place but serve the district at-large.

White Settlement ISD

Incumbent Jeremy Lelek and challenger John Morton were in a tight race for the Place 4 seat on the White Settlement ISD school board. 

Morton had 50.1% of the vote to Lelek’s 49.9%.

Board President Ben Davis is the lone candidate for Place 5.

Trustees in WSISD serve three-year terms and are elected at-large.

Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at [email protected] or @matthewsgroi1. 

Jacob Sanchez is a senior education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at [email protected] or @_jacob_sanchez. 

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.

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