Fort Worth school board race for District 4 heads to runoff, Camille Rodriguez wins District 1
Podiatrist Camille Rodriguez won the District 1 Fort Worth school board race while the District 4 race was pushed to a runoff, according to unofficial results early Sunday morning with all vote centers reporting.
Rodriguez took 55.68% of the vote in the District 1. Fort Worth police officer Aaron Garcia had 44.32%.
The District 1 seat was left up for grabs by the resignation of Jacinto Ramos Jr. in March. The trustee represents the North Side neighborhood and parts of central Fort Worth.
Rodriguez, a former substitute teacher who served on the board from 2004 to 2008, campaigned on improving scores, positively engaging parents and caregivers, and being transparent in all matters.
“I want every child in FWISD to have the same opportunities that I had,” she said. “I want them to be prepared to join the workforce or go on to higher learning if they so wish. Fort Worth is a vibrant city which must have an ISD that we can all be proud of, not one mired in controversy.”
For District 4’s three-way race, child psychiatrist Brian J. Dixon received the largest share of votes but didn’t reach the 50% threshold to avoid a June 18 runoff.
Dixon, who got 47.46% of votes, will face off with community liaison Wallace Bridges, who received 37.10% of the vote.
Correctional officer Trischelle A. Strong took 15.44% of the vote.
The District 4 board seat, which was left vacant by the death of trustee Daphne Brookins in November, represents parts of southeast Fort Worth and includes O. D. Wyatt High School.
Dixon ran on a campaign to improve reading rates, support teachers and choose the right superintendent.
“We stand at an impasse,” he said. “Between the effects of COVID, racial reconciliation, and health/wealth disparity, Fort Worth has a unique opportunity to invest in their children and educational workforce to build future leaders.”
Bridges said his top policy priorities are to improve reading and math scores, build strong school communities and ensure schools receive the support they deserve.
In the weeks leading up to the election, Bridges called Dixon’s residency into question and filed a complaint with the Fort Worth school district regarding the suspension of Dixon’s voter registration by the Tarrant County Elections Commission. Bridges claims Dixon does not reside in District 4. Dixon, who owns property in the district, has denied the claims.
Bridges said Dixon’s residency issues are a testament to outside individuals trying to control District 4, something Bridges and his campaign say they’re working to call out and work against.
The vacant board seats may be crucial in choosing the district’s new superintendent as Kent Scribner is set to retire by the end of August and the search to find his replacement is underway.
Both seat terms expire in 2025.
This story was originally published May 7, 2022 at 7:26 PM.
