Jeffrey M. Barry has won the lone contested race for the Pearland board of trustees—Position 7—with 1,068 votes, or 60.54 percent, according to unofficial results with all precincts reporting. Kelvin L. Williams received 696 votes, or 39.46 percent. The at-large board positions carry three-year terms.
Jeffrey M. Barry[/caption]"We ran a positive race. We’re all happy on our side and looking forward to making sure we continue to work to provide the best possible education for our kids," Barry said.
The position will be his first public office.
Barry said academic achievement, teacher retention and fiscal responsibility are the chief areas he plans to address as a board member.
"They're all equal but distinct issues," he said. "We have a difficult task, but I am looking forward to it."
A total of 1,945 of 59,350 eligible to vote in the district, or 3.28 percent of voters, participated in the election.
Results are unofficial until canvassed.
Posted 7:30 p.m.
Jeffrey M. Barry is leading the race for Pearland ISD Position 7 in early voting, with 804 votes, or 62.33 percent, according to unofficial results. Kelvin L. Williams received 486 votes, or 37.67 percent, with no precincts officially reporting.
Barry is an insurance agency owner, and Williams is lead electrical power systems integration engineer for the International Space Station Program. The two vied for a position left by incumbent Pam Boegler, who did not seek re-election.
Barry has said that academic achievement, teacher retention and fiscal responsibility are his main priorities as a candidate.
He has stated that he believes the best approach to creating a good environment for teachers is to reduce administrative burdens and create an atmosphere in which teachers want to remain. He has said he would seek to strengthen public and private partnerships with the PISD Education Foundation and other organizations to help address shortfalls created by lack of state funding.
Williams has said that addressing current and future school capacity issues is one of his primary concerns as a candidate. He has stated that he would aim to provide the best tools for teachers and assess their health care plan costs to retain teachers in the district. He also said he would be fiscally responsible to Pearland residents in the face of challenges pose by lack of state funding.
Results are unofficial until canvassed.
