From: www.lubbockonline.com
By Karen Michael / A-J Media
There are no school bond elections planned for the May 5 elections, but several school districts in Lubbock County will hold school board elections. Early voting begins Monday.
Lubbock County’s largest school district, Lubbock Independent School District, has two contested elections for school trustee positions.
In district 3, Wesley Robinson and Benn Webb are running for a seat which was held by Trustee Mark Blankenship. Blankenship is not seeking re-election.
Beth Bridges, Art Martin and Amanda Banks are running in a three-way race for an at-large seat.
Zach Brady, a trustee appointed to an unexpired term in 2017, is unopposed in the election to complete the term for an at-large position. Ryan Curry, who is running in district 4 for a seat held by Trustee James Arnold, is also running unopposed.
Frenship ISD, Lubbock County’s second-largest district, had three seats up for regular election and one seat that was up for election from an unexpired term. But none of Frenship’s seats were contested, so its election has been canceled.
Incumbents David R. Miller and Jamey Phillips ran unopposed for re-election in places 5 and 6, respectively. Mikella Newsom ran unopposed for a seat recently held by Kelley Grimes. Brandon Autrey ran unopposed for the seat he was appointed to in January.
In Lubbock-Cooper ISD, three seats are up for election, but only one is contested.
Outgoing Trustee Dave Gilles’ seat in place three has two candidates, B.J. Lewis and Maurice (Reese) Pearl, vying for the seat. Ursula Caswell is unopposed in her bid for outgoing Trustee Derek Kitten’s position in place 4, while Brent Preston is unopposed for outgoing Trustee Alan Vinson’s position in place 7.
Elsewhere in Lubbock County, there are elections at several small school districts.
In Abernathy, five candidates are running for three at-large positions, including David Carver, Marcus Sullivan, Shawn Vandygriff, Rick Houston and Lee Anne Lust. The three candidates with the most votes will be seated on the school board.
In Idalou, Heath Bozeman and Dustan Moyers are running unopposed, but a seat held by Jack Foote has three candidates. Those candidates are James Baxa, Damon Cooley and Eric Tucker.
New Deal ISD’s candidates were all unopposed, and it will have no election.
Roosevelt ISD has one contested election in place 4 between incumbent Marty Whetzel, who has been on the board more than 20 years, and Jonathan Meyer. In place 5, Monte Vineyard is running unopposed.
Shallowater ISD has four candidates running for three at-large positions. Two candidates, Anthony Foerster and Jessica Kelly, are incumbent board members, while DeeDee Schmucker and Brice Foster are new to the school board races.
A Shallowater trustee who was appointed to an unexpired term, Garett Nelson, ran unchallenged.
Slaton ISD’s candidates were all unopposed and its election was cancelled.
About the candidates
Lubbock ISD District 3 race
Wesley Robinson is president and chief executive officer of Integrated Axis Group. He has three children, including one who graduated from Lubbock High School, one currently attending Coronado High School and one at All Saints Episcopal School. Robinson loves Lubbock, and has been involved in many community activities through his church and other non-profit organizations. He is involved with Coronado High sports programs and a member of the football and baseball booster club.
Ben Webb has two children in Lubbock ISD, and has served on the Lubbock ISD Foundation for Excellence Board for two years. He is a licensed attorney who has been in private practice in Lubbock for 12 years. For six years, he has run his own law office. Webb believes public education serves a unique and vital role in shaping the next generation of community leaders and productive citizens.
Lubbock ISD At-large race
Amanda Banks was the first Lady Raider track and field student-athlete to enter the Texas Tech Hall of Fame. She has experience as a director of community outreach and engagement for East Lubbock Promise Neighborhood, a college advisor for Lubbock ISD, a disproportionality specialist for the Health and Human Services Commission, an academic advisor for Tech athletics and an adjunct professor for Tech’s College of Education. Banks has spent 23 years working with youth and young adults, and believes she can assess academic preparedness and provide collaborative leadership.
Beth Bridges is the senior property manager at South Plains Mall and a Lubbock ISD parent. She is active in the Junior League of Lubbock and Hutchinson Middle School PTA board. She recently completed a term as chair of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Her goal is to provide the broadest, most enriching experience for every student as a school board member, and wants to provide students with the educational foundation and skills to build a future in Lubbock.
Art Martin has a passion and a vested interest in public education being effective for all students. He has served as chief financial officer of Lubbock, Midland and El Paso ISDs. He is currently working with the Slaton, Plainview and Manor districts. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and information systems and an MBA in management. He is also a certified public accountant and a registered Texas school business administrator.