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On Saturday, incumbent Tami Keeling and challenger Charlie Jaynes each received 581 votes in the race for District 5 on the Victoria school board.
The board will canvass the results at its 6 p.m. Thursday meeting.
Unless both candidates agree to a method of chance, such as rolling a dice, to choose who will serve on the board or one withdraws, the election office will conduct a recount of the votes, which election administrator George Matthews said will tentatively occur on Friday.
Matthews noted this is the first tie he has seen in 20 years.
“I’m not going to agree to a coin flip,” Jaynes said. “I don’t think that’s what’s right for the children and whoever got it would be a lame duck for three years. If it’s a tie, I think we need to run again.”
If the recount still shows the candidates as tied, the board will meet again to canvass the results and order a second election, which could cost the district $10,000 to $12,000. Matthews said the date of the election has been tentatively set on June 14.
Anyone living in the district –which includes precincts 6, 9, 17, 19, 30 and 33 – who has registered to vote 30 days prior to the election, which would be May 15 if the election occurs June 14, can participate. Early voting will also be held before the second election day.
Tami Keeling, a 46-year-old housewife, said if a second election occurs, she will continue to run her campaign on educational and fiscal issues.
She said she supports Superintendent Bob Moore, changes to the dress code, discipline and better pay for teachers.
“I’ll run another campaign on what are the educational and fiscal issues facing VISD and what I bring to the table in solving them,” Keeling said. “I’ll run on my experience. We’re moving forward on all fronts and I played a part in that. I have the time and I’ve committed a massive amount of time to going above and beyond.”
Keeling said that she and others have unanswered questions for Jaynes, such as whether he will vote on salary and compensation issues because his wife and son-in-law work for the district.
Readers have posted comments and blogs on the Advocate’s Web site debating the issue.
“I know he legally can vote, but will he vote? That’s what I’d like to know,” Keeling said. “I think Charlie’s got some questions to answer, and we’ll be asking those questions.”
Jaynes, a 61-year-old physician, said if a second election does take place, he will continue to run his campaign exactly as he has been.
“I am able to ethically vote on the issues – that’s my primary push,” Jaynes said. “And it’s still about discipline, which my opponent has failed to address in the last three years. I have no conflict in terms of anything else. I’m running for my grandchildren just like I said all along.”
According the most recent candidate campaign finance reports, both candidates had money left for campaign spending at the beginning of May.
From April 11 to May 2, Keeling received $1,975 in contributions and spent $6,982.04, leaving her with $8,055.93 at the end of the period.
From April 10 to April 30, Jaynes received $17,204.35 in contributions and spent $3,778.77, with $14,671.17 at the end of the period.
The final campaign finance reports will be turned in once the candidates have spent all their funds.
Pamela Bond is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6578 or pbond@vicad.com.
Besides canvassing the results of Saturday's election, the following items are on the agenda for the school board meeting set for 6 p.m. Thursday in the education center board room at 102 Profit Drive.