Photo by Liza Winkler

Incumbent Kristi Baker and newcomer Joe Duncan were sworn in to their positions May 19 at the Magnolia ISD school board meeting.

Baker was elected to serve a three-year term as Position 4 on the MISD board May 10 with 2,575 votes, totaling about 72 percent of the ballots cast. Her opponent, Ginger Russell, received an estimated 28 percent of the vote and racked up 1,021 total ballots.

Duncan ran unopposed for Position 5 and received 2,719 votes, electing him to Charlie Riley's former seat. He will also serve a three-year term.

Riley left his seat to run for Montgomery County Precinct 2 commissioner, which he won in a runoff election May 27.

"I am thrilled to be elected to keep my seat on the Magnolia ISD school board," Baker said. "I am looking forward to continuing the important work I have been doing on behalf of all of the children and residents in our district."

Baker said she is focused on celebrating the accomplishments of the district's students during the past school year and will dive into planning next year's budget this summer.

"We're a great community who thinks for themselves," Baker said. "[I will] put in the time and effort to make sure our kids are taken care of. I promise I won't let y'all down."

Duncan thanked the voters for electing him to office and said he plans to further MISD's legacy as the best school district in the state of Texas.

There were 3,595 voters who turned out to vote in the school board election, which is the largest turnout ever for a MISD school board race, Baker said. Before the May 10 election, the largest voter turnout was approximately 900 voters, she said.