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

Early voting 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 just 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 500 votes had been reported in early voting.

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

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 100 votes of each other.

Incumbent Gretchen Minyard Williams, 65, a realtor who has served as co-chairman of Minyard Food Stores, had an early lead. 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. He was a longtime Dallas College trustee.

Williams is running against Catalina E. Garcia, a retired physician, and Lynn Davenport, 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.

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