Nine running for three slots on BISD board

Enrique Escobedo Jr. has switched seats in his bid for re-election to the BISD Board of Trustees, setting up a showdown with fellow board member Ruben Cortez Jr. for Position 2 on the board. Mauricio Paniagua is also running for the seat.

In an e-mailed response to questions from The Brownsville Herald about the turn of events, Escobedo said some members of the Brownsville Independent School District board had "allowed special interest and politics to become part of our meetings and our decision making. I feel that we are a divided board. We’ve lost the enthusiasm shown two years ago and it has been replaced with personal vendettas, allegations and innuendoes.

"I believe my opponent is part of that problem and I want to find out if the people of Brownsville feel the same way," Escobedo said, adding that he would rather confront Cortez in the political arena than at board meetings "where we are dealing with so many issues that affect the lives of many children, parents and employees."

Escobedo is completing his second term as the board’s Position 1 trustee and is its immediate past president. Cortez is completing his first term as the Position 2 trustee and is board vice president.

For his part, Cortez said BISD is on the right track, with the district receiving academic accolades including being named a "recognized" district for 2010 by the Texas Education Agency and all schools receiving a designation of either recognized or "exemplary," TEA’s highest.

"The superintendent’s office is focused on student success," Cortez said. "Now, I don’t take part in the classroom, but I am part of the system. Apart from that, I have taken board service in another direction." Cortez referred to his service on the Texas Association of School Boards Legislative Advisory Council. The council is responsible for combining regional advocacy priorities into one statewide agenda for TASB.

"I go beyond just what I do in board meetings," Cortez said. "Little old Brownsville is not so little any more. We’re the 17th largest district in the state." Having a representative on the TASB legislative advisory council makes sure Brownsville’s concerns are part of the association’s agenda, he said.

"I’m running to win," Cortez said of Escobedo’s candidacy. "Obviously I was prepared for a race, but I had no idea I would be running against a sitting board member."

Cortez also questioned Escobedo’s decision to switch positions with the number of candidates running for Position 1.

Tuesday was the filing deadline for the Nov. 2 election. In all, 10 candidates filed for three positions. Position 4 incumbent Richard "Rick" Zayas filed for re-election and initially drew two opponents, but one dropped out. Four candidates filed for Position 1, including former trustee Herman Otis Powers Jr. and retired BISD educator Christina L. Saavedra, who ran for the board in 2006. For Position 2, Mauricio Paniagua is running against Escobedo and Cortez.

Here’s a rundown:Position 1:

Eric Garza said he is deeply passionate about education and public service.

"My priorities are to ensure we provide quality education to our district’s students, by enhancing our curriculum, teacher development, and strengthening educational programs, and raise the standard of accountability. The school board is accountable to our administrators, teachers, and staff but also to the community as a whole. Teachers are the backbone of our district and students are our most precious asset. 

"I will support policies and measures that will take our district to a higher level of excellence both academically and operationally," Garza said in an e-mail to The Herald. "As our district grows, so will its needs, and I envision being part of a board that embraces new and effective changes with a responsible and fiscally sound approach."

Garza, who holds a degree in political science from Texas A&M University, works with the nonprofit Valley International Development Corp., which hosted the Back to School Bash that took place Aug. 14 at the Brownsville Sports Park. VIDC is dedicated to community engagement, providing scholarships, youth mentoring, higher education and other initiatives.

Daniel Peña Jr. is a retired BISD auto mechanics teacher and cancer survivor.

"God gave me life again. Now I want to do something for my kids again," Peña said. "I’m almost 62. I think I can go three or four more years and then I’ll retire. It’s my intention to help the public."

Peña is a brother-in-law to board member Minerva Peña, who appointed him to BISD’s Bond Oversight Committee. He said the experience gave him a taste of what service on the Board of Trustees might be like.

Herman Otis Powers Jr. was first elected to the BISD board in 1997 and has served off and on. He last served in 2008 when Catalina Presas Garcia defeated his re-election bid.

Powers cited his "ability to work with people and bring the board and superintendent together as a ‘team of eight,’" as well as his financial background as his top qualifications. Powers is a certified tax consultant.

"We need to get more dollars back to the district," he said. "I look forward to the election and bringing back the team approach of people working together for what’s best for the district."

He said he plans "to run a professional and clean race, to go to the voters and tell them what I can do and move on."

Christina L. Saavedra, a retired BISD educator, is taking another shot at winning a seat on the board after first running in 2006.

"Since I’m an educator I’m very concerned with sustainability" of the student achievement gains the district has achieved, she said. "At the same time we need to make sure the budget is developed for the good of the students here in Brownsville. ... The community is in the dark about some aspects of the budget and we need to have more transparency."

Saavedra also said that despite the academic gains the district has made, it is still falling short on high school graduation and completion rates.

Position 2:

Mauricio Paniagua is running for the position against Cortez and Escobedo. He is a retired project development manager for Delphi, the former General Motors subsidiary.

Paniagua said his main goal in running is to have a role in improving Brownsville’s educational system. He said it is possible to have a better-educated work force at a lower cost "and at the same time have students who are better prepared and better educated.

Position 3:

Richard "Rick" Zayas is running for re-election after only two years because he was elected to a short term in 2008 when BISD moved elections from May to November.

Zayas cited bringing in federal stimulus money to fund district projects as an accomplishment during his time on the board. Stimulus funds are paying for Breeden Elementary in the Cameron Park area and a new performance auditorium at Hanna High School — both for about 27 cents on the dollar because they qualified for Texas Instructional Facilities Allotments.

He noted that BISD was able to cut spending by $7 million in its current budget "with services that are the same or better" and a health care plan that saves the district money.

Luci B. Longoria is a retired 33-year BISD employee who served as secretary to former superintendent Hector Gonzales.

"I have firsthand knowledge of the budget and of what each department is responsible for," she said. "I can relate when a concern arises."

Longoria added that she "has the experience to do a good job" on the board and plans to run "a clean, professional campaign."

Argelia Miller, a longtime BISD employee who has often stood up for open government, filed for the position but said she officially withdrew before 5 p.m. Friday in the interest of not splitting the vote.