By MARY RAINWATER
The Palestine Herald
May 11, 2008 01:50 am
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The (unofficial) results are in.
Almost 1,200 voters in five area school districts decided the fate of their respective school boards Saturday, electing (or re-electing) nine people to serve as trustees in Palestine, Westwood, Frankston, Elkhart and Oakwood ISDs.
All election results are preliminary until respective school boards canvass votes next week.
Palestine ISD
Over 400 PISD voters went to the polls Saturday to decide the two full-term seats and single one-year unexpired term seats on the board. Just over half of those were early voters.
Place 6 incumbent Dr. Michael Gorby lost his seat on the board, as he was defeated by newcomer Chuck Grissaffi. Grissaffi received 241 votes versus Gorby’s 181 votes.
Receiving 366 total votes, place 7 incumbent Michael Bennett will keep his place 7 seat on the board for another term. With 366 total votes, he defeated opponent Jacques “Jock” Bell, who received only 54 votes.
Place 2 board appointee Wade Hobbs will remain on the board another year, as he defeated opponent Joe Sanchez with 334 votes versus Sanchez’ 73 votes. Hobbs will have to run again in 2009 to keep his seat on the board for a full term.
Westwood ISD
Almost 100 residents turned out to vote in Westwood ISD district 2 trustee election Saturday, a higher than usual turnout for the district.
Winning the spot by just six votes was newcomer Diane Davis, who defeated fellow newcomer Dr. Don Rice, 50-44 votes.
The district had four unopposed races, as well — district 1 appointee Carey McKinney, district 3 appointee Theresa Bambeck, district 5 newcomer Scot Kaiser, and district 6 appointee Carolyn Mackie.
Elkhart ISD
At Elkhart ISD newcomer Dr. Tom Witte won the position 4 spot with 120 total votes. Witte ran against fellow newcomer Dale Crane, who received 68 votes and former board member Curtis “Beaver” Franklin received 40 votes.
Position 5 seatholder Tina Teetz, with 140 votes, ran unopposed in Saturday’s election and will keep her seat on the board for another term.
Frankston ISD
Place 6 incumbent Mark Bostick will keep his seat on the FISD board, after garnering 203 votes over opponent Jevette Dansby’s 118 votes.
Former board member Harry Smith won the Place 7 seat on the board with 145 total votes. Smith ran for the seat against newcomers Mark Chalk, who received 96 votes, Shelle Thomas, with 73 votes, and Johnny Ray Baker, with 19 votes.
Oakwood ISD
OISD school board incumbents Mack Botard and Nathan Smith will keep their at-large seats on the school board for another term. The two garnered the most votes, with 52 votes and 60 votes, respectively.
Newcomer Cindy Pate received a total of 14 votes.
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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com
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