Voting information for both counties was reported after 7 p.m., representing ballots cast Oct. 24-Nov. 4 during early voting and on Election Day on Nov. 8.
Community Impact has called each race in the board election, but votes are still being counted in Williamson County as of 12:40 a.m. Nov. 9.
Place 1
For Place 1, a special election was held to will fill the seat vacated by former Trustee Jun Xiao. Actor Estevan Jesus "Chuy" Zarate won the seat with 48.07% of ballots. Opponents John Keagy, a chemical engineer, received 27.49% of the vote, and senior adviser at Advance CTE Kevin R. Johnson received 17.82% of votes. A third opponent, Apple software engineer Yuriy Semchyshyn, garnered 6.62% of the vote.
Place 3
The Place 3 race saw incumbent and board President Amber Feller, a quality management specialist and advocate, successfully defend her seat and receive 52.57% of the vote. Her opponent, Orlando Salinas, a program specialist for Texas, received 37.1% of votes. Maryam Zafar, who dropped out of the race in October, received 10.33% of ballots.
"It's been an honor and a privilege to work with this community over the last four years, and I am very excited about working another four," Feller said. "We have an extraordinary school district. I am going to be more focused than ever before on leading our school district forward. I want to thank the fellow trustees that I have served with, and I'm looking forward to the new trustees that will join us on this board. We truly live in an incredible community that cares passionately about our public schools, and this was definitely a community effort to pull this off."
Place 4
Alicia Markum, a photographer and stay-at-home parent, unseated incumbent Cory Vessa for Place 4 with 43.34% of ballots cast. Vessa, a nonprofit director, won 8.54% of the vote. Candidates for Place 4 also included educational diagnostician Linda Avila, who received 22.62% of the vote, and former IT recruiter and current homemaker Jill Farris with 25.5% of the vote.
"I am so excited about the way things turned out," Markum said. "I feel like the community was very decisive with their votes on the direction that they want to see this district go. I'm absolutely thrilled and honored to serve our community in this way."
Vessa said she hoped the board will continue to pursue excellence in education and financial stewardship for the district.
"After serving four years, during probably the most challenging time public education has ever seen, I leave the board of trustees in the hands of those I hope will continue a legacy of pursuing educational excellence, superb financial stewardship, and legislative leadership," Vessa said. "It truly has been an honor to serve."
Place 5
Incumbent and Place 5 candidate Amy Weir, a grants manager, received 56.41% of votes, successfully defending her seat. Opponent Stefan Bryant, also a grants manager, received 8.37% of the vote. Additional opponents Christie Slape, a former teacher and current professional organizer, received 30.13% of the vote, and Joshua Billingsley, a candidate who dropped out from the race in September, received 5.1% of the vote.
"I have been a volunteer in this district for almost two decades," Weir said. "I am on my fifth child through Round Rock ISD. I feel like the people of Round Rock ISD know me and know what I stand for and know what type of person I am. There's been a lot said about me that I feel like is not 100% true, and I'm very grateful to the people of Round Rock ISD for supporting me, for continuing to believe in me, and for knowing who I truly am and what I stand for."
Place 6
Incumbent Tiffanie Harrison, a consultant and investigator, received 62.54% of ballots cast, defending her seat from Don Zimmerman, an engineer who received 37.46% of ballots cast.
"There was a lot at stake for this election," Harrison said regarding her lead in the polls. "Our community has spoken. Love wins. Recognizing the unique brilliance of each and every one of our students wins. Looking forward to working with my new colleagues towards excellence for all students in Round Rock ISD."
All polling data is unofficial until canvassed. To learn more about statewide and local races, visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
Community Impact reached out to Zarate but did not receive a response ahead of publication time. This story will be updated with any statements received.
