Velarde, Fenenbock, Hatch avoid runoffs in EPISD races
Al Velarde and Dori Fenenbock coasted to big victories in their respective races to become trustees of the El Paso Independent School District. Trent Hatch had a closer race, but still finished above the 50% mark, which was enough to avoid a runoff.
Their election marks a return to local oversight of El Paso’s largest school district. A state-appointed board of managers has governed the district for the past two years, following the revelation of cheating on standardized tests and financial irregularities that sent former superintendent Lorenzo Garcia to prison.
FINAL RESULTS
EPISD TRUSTEE – PLACE 2 Early voting + 17 of 17 precincts
MAYELA SANCHEZ SERRA 518 23.00%
LUIS H. DE LA CRUZ 213 9.46%
AL VELARDE 1,521 67.54%
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EPISD TRUSTEE – PLACE 6 Early voting + 12 of 12 precincts
TRENT HATCH 1,454 53.53%
ALEJANDRO AL PATINO 815 30.01%
TIMOTHY D. MARTIN 447 16.46%
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EPISD TRUSTEE – PLACE 7 Early voting + 13 of 13 precincts
DIANE M. FLORES 503 13.45%
DORI FENENBOCK 2,588 68.43%
MICHAEL (MIKE) IZQUIERDO 501 13.25%
ANDRES MURO 190 5.02%
EPISD officials sent the following statement:
“Voters in the El Paso Independent School District tonight elected three members to its soon-to-be-installed Board of Trustees.
“Voters in District 2 from the Jefferson and Burges areas elected Al Velarde, the executive director of the El Paso Child Crisis Center.
“In District 6, which represents the Franklin area, voters elected businessman and football booster Trent Hatch.
“Dori Fenenbock, a member of the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority and a PTA leader, was elected to represent District 7 in the Coronado area.
“We are looking forward to working with the newly-elected trustees, as well as the four previously-elected board members that will now take the oath of office,” said EPISD Superintendent Juan Cabrera. “Together, the new Board and the employees of the District will help move EPISD forward to the benefit of our students.”
“El Paso County Elections officials have said election results will be available to be canvassed by the District on the week of May 18.
“The entire Board will be installed shortly after that.”
