DISD, Dallas College candidates in close races, early voting results show

Early results showed incumbents for DISD school board and Dallas College in tight races, according to unofficial returns.

Dallas ISD trustee Karla Garcia, 25, was trailing behind challenger Camile White in their second matchup for the District 4 seat, which represents parts of Southeast Dallas, Pleasant Grove, Balch Springs and Seagoville. Fewer than 600 votes had been reported by late evening.

Oak Cliff’s Maxie Johnson and North Oak Cliff’s Ben Mackey, the current DISD board president, ran unopposed.

Garcia — a senior associate for College Access and Success at Dallas-based education nonprofit Commit — has served on the board since her 2019 win. (The family foundation for Commit’s founder, Todd Williams, is a supporter of The Dallas Morning News’ Education Lab.) White, 56, is a former educator and current realtor.

In the coming months, the trustees will not only tackle how to combat COVID-19 learning loss and build up students’ readiness for college and careers but also must find a new schools leader to replace longtime Superintendent Michael Hinojosa.

Meanwhile, three candidates for the Dallas College’s District 1 seat — which encompasses North Dallas and Lake Highlands — were within a few percentage points of each other.

Incumbent Gretchen Minyard Williams, 65, a realtor who has served as co-chairman of Minyard Food Stores, was falling behind her competitors late into the evening. She took over the seat after the death of her husband, J.L. “Sonny” Williams — a Minyard Food Stores president and minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks — who was a longtime Dallas College trustee.

Catalina E. Garcia, 84, a retired physician, was in the lede followed by Lynn Davenport, 50, a former professional recruiter.

Phill Ritter, the incumbent for the District 2 seat — which represents Oak Lawn, Highland Park as well as Irving and Coppell — was leading against challenger Eugene Robinson.

And in Dallas College’s District 3, Paul Mayer, 72, the Garland Chamber of Commerce’s CEO, was leading against Soji John, 51, who counsels Western Digital Corporation. The two are vying to replace incumbent Dorothy Zimmermann, who did not seek reelection.

Board chair Monica Lira Bravo ran unopposed for District 4, which includes Southeast Dallas, prolonging her tenure.

Newly elected college trustees will be challenged with helping the system bounce back from COVID-19 disruptions that include significant enrollment drops and navigating the system’s consolidation.

The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.

The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from The Beck Group, Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, The Meadows Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Todd A. Williams Family Foundation and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.