Mercer easily wins SBOE District 5 Republican primary

In the race for State Board of Education District 5 seat, incumbent Ken Mercer defeated Steve Salyer in the Republican primary while Democrat Rebecca Bell-Metereau ran unopposed.

Mercer, a businessman and former member of the Texas House of Representatives, received 70.78 percent of the vote while Salyer received 29.21 percent.

Mercer was elected to the State Board of Education in November 2006 and serves as chair of the board's Committee on School Initiatives. He previously served as vice chair of the board's Committee on School Initiatives and vice chair of the board's Committee on Instruction.

Salyer is an Army veteran who earned the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Humanitarian Service Medal during his service.

Rebecca Bell-Metereau is a professor of English and film and directs the Media Studies minor at Texas State University, where she received the Excellence in Teaching Award, Alumni Association Teaching Excellence Award and the Presidential Award for Excellence.

Bell-Metereau ran for a seat on the State Board of Education in 2010, but was defeated.

All results are unofficial.