LISD voters cast ballots in five trustee races Nov. 8. According to final election results from both Williamson and Travis counties, three incumbents were re-elected. Francesca Romans—who has a background in education law—was elected to the open Place 6 seat, and Paul Gauthier, a theater teacher, unseated incumbent Elexis Grimes in the Place 7 race.
Both of the newly elected trustees said they were grateful to the voters who entrusted them with this position.
“This was a huge community effort,” Romans said. “I had incredible volunteers, and we were able to have conservations with district leadership, staff, parents, students and other members of the LISD community. I’m glad we were able to have those conversations, and I want them to continue.”
Romans won with 42.33% percent of the vote, with 59,554 votes being cast in the Place 6 race. She pulled ahead of challengers Scott Reese and Sharon Bell who received 30.78% and 26.89% of the vote, respectively.
The Place 6 seat is currently held by Aaron Johnson, who did not seek re-election.
Gauthier, who edged out a victory over Joseph Gorordo and incumbent Trustee Elexis Grimes, tallied 35.01% of the vote. Gorordo and Grimes garnered 33.39% and 31.60% of the 60,615 votes cast, respectively.
As a new trustee, Gauthier said his focus will be on improving educational outcomes for students.
“What I don’t want, and what I’ve seen a little bit too much, is for us to say it’s OK for the kids to not be at their grade level [academically],” Gauthier said.
The newly elected trustees had differentiating opinions on Proposition B, the voter-approval tax rate election, which asked voters to approve a higher tax rate than allowed by the state without voter approval.
Gauthier said he felt the board overstepped during the budgeting process, including when they approved teacher raises. Moving forward, he stressed the need for fiscal responsibility.
“This is what the voters approved. I’m only one vote,” he said. “Just because we got the money, doesn’t mean we have to spend it. I do believe that wholeheartedly.”
Romans said she was more nervous for the outcome of the propositions than her own board election, because of how important they were, particularly Proposition A, the attendance credit election, which allows the district to make mandatory recapture payments to the state. If Proposition A had failed, LISD would be subject to a detachment of territory, in which a portion of its tax base would be given to another district.
“[From what advisors tell the board] we are in a good place financially. The current board has done great work in getting our debt down, and we are in a good position to continue that work,” Romans said.
Both propositions passed with Proposition A receiving support from 64.4% of LISD voters; 52.17% supported Proposition B.
Community Impact reached out to Grimes and Gorordo for this story, but had not heard back as of press time.
LISD will host a special board meeting Nov. 18 at 6:15 p.m. to canvas the results of the election.
