By George Slaughter
Rebecca Fox (Rebecca Fox photo)
Katy Independent School District voters re-elected two school board trustees Saturday while also approving a $676 million bond.
The board will meet May 12 to canvass the returns.
In the Position 6 race, motivational speaker and former trustee Rebecca Fox defeated incumbent Susan Gesoff and three other challengers to win re-election to the board.
Fox previously served in the Position 2 seat from 2004-2019. She sought the Position 1 seat that year, but lost that bid.
Gesoff, an engineer, was seeking her second term on the board.
Fox received 3,002 votes, or 36%. Gesoff received 2,754 votes, or 33%. To win the race, a candidate needed a plurality and there is no runoff.
Susan Gesoff, an engineer, faces challenges from four opponents. They are Bonnie Anderson, an assessor quality management analyst; William X Branch, a truck driver; Garima DGupta, a teacher, and Rebecca Fox, a former trustee. Another candidate, Joe Wojcik, a security investigator and adjunct college professor, withdrew his candidacy last week. His name remains on the ballot, however.
Other candidates were Bonnie Anderson, an assessor quality management analyst, who received 1,598 votes, or 19%; Garima DGupta, a teacher, who received 732 votes, or 9%; William X. Branch II, a truck driver, who received 80 votes, or 1%.
Joe Wojcik, a security investigator and adjunction college professor, withdrew his candidacy shortly before election day. His name remained on the ballot, however, and he received 164 votes, or 2%.
“I am looking forward to working with the board members and superintendent to make Katy ISD better and stronger for our children and teachers,” Fox said. “I am grateful to the community for supporting me and giving me the opportunity.”
Champagne Re-Elected to Position 7 Seat
Dawn Champagne (Dawn Champagne photo)
Position 7 incumbent Dawn Champagne won re-election against Walter Butler. This will be Champagne’s second term. Butler was making his first bid for office.
Champagne, who works in retail sales, received 5,766 votes, or 73 percent. Butler, who also works in sales, received 2,128 votes, or 27%.
Efforts to reach Champagne Saturday night were unsuccessful.
Voters Approve $676 Million Bond
Voters approved a $676 million bond proposal, which has these propositions:
- Proposition A: New schools, renovations, safety & security and building component replacements, for $591,368,568.
- Proposition B: Classroom & campus technology, for $59,755,242.
- Proposition C: Natatorium for the new High School #10, for $13,842,610.
- Proposition D: Campus athletic building component replacements, for $11,260,000.
Superintendent Dr. Ken Gregorski thanked parents, staff, and the community for their support.
“With the passage of the four 2021 bond propositions, the district and campuses are well positioned to continue effectively managing our region’s fast growth, updating safety measures, and providing building and technology improvements across more than 88 campuses and facilities,” Gregorski said.
The bond proposal was prepared by a community bond advisory community earlier this year and approved for placement by board trustees. To see list of projects by school campus, visit the website.