Two of three incumbents lost their races in the North East ISD elections on May 7. Each seat carries a four-year term.

District 2 trustee Terri Williams fended off a challenge from two opponents, while political newcomers Diane Sciba Villarreal and Marsha Landry upset sitting trustees Omar Leos and Sandy Winkley, respectively, in contests for the District 3 and District 7 board seats.

An economic development professional, Williams won a second term with 40.5% of the vote, beating Jacqueline Klein and Rhonda Rowland.

Prior to the election, Williams told Community Impact Newspaper that she wanted to remain part of continued progress on matters such as lowering the property tax rate, educating students through adverse conditions such as the pandemic, and giving students a voice and responding to their concerns and issues.

Villarreal, a Castle Hills resident, claimed the District 3 post with 57.8% of the vote in defeating Leos, a Harlandale ISD program coordinator who was appointed to the board in 2019.

According to her campaign website, Villarreal said her being a parent and a business owner enables her to be in close touch with families and other residents across NEISD. She also said there are problems in NEISD schools that “call for a fresh approach.”

Landry, a USAA business support analyst collected 41.5% in her narrow victory in District 7. Winkley, who works for an accounting firm, hoped to win a second term, but placed second in this election with 40.5%.

Former trustee Joseph Trevino, whom Leos replaced in the District 3 board spot in 2019, finished with 17.9% of the vote in the District 7 contest.

According to her online campaign platforms, Landry said she is a working mother with two teenage boys at home.

Landry called herself “an advocate for traditional Christian values, transparency in educational curriculums, holding educators accountable and expecting our schools provide solid foundations for success.”

Some community members expressed concern over NEISD campaign finance reports that showed Klein, Villarreal and Landry receiving donations from the San Antonio based political action committee Parents United for Freedom.

According to its website, the PAC says it seeks to “protect parental rights within the school system and to reclaim our schools from the harmful agendas being promoted.”