Lynn Walsh

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

Juliet Stipeche, Judith Cruz head to runoff in Houston ISD school board race
Wednesday, Nov 03, 2010, 12:11PM CST
By Lynn Walsh

A runoff election is expected later this month in the Houston school board District 8 race between a local lawyer and stay-at-home mom.

Lawyer Juliet Stipeche and former teacher/now full-time mom Judith Cruz garnered more votes than any of their competitors, but neither reached the 50 percent threshold required to outright win the Houston Independent School District vacant trustee position.

A run-off between the two will take place on Nov. 30.

Cruz led Tuesday’s election with more than 30 percent of the votes. Stipeche earned close to 21 percent.

Dorothy Olmos earned more than 14 percent of the votes, Peter Schwethelm earned close to 13 percent and Roberto Centeno earned seven percent.

A sixth candidate, Cheryl Moodie, who dropped out of the race due to residency issues, earned 11 percent of the votes Tuesday. According to the Houston Chronicle, Moodie moved to Houston from Louisiana earlier this year but has not lived in HISD’s District 8 area for six months, a requirement for candidates.

The five candidates collectively raised more than $60,000 in campaign contributions last month. Stipeche and Cruz brought in the most money — Stipeche with more than $30,500 in contributions, and Cruz with more than $25,000. Dorothy Olmos and former teachers Roberto Centeno and Peter Schwethelm also ran for the HISD trustee position.

The District 8 seat was left vacant in July when Diana Davila stepped down from the position more than a year before her term was to end.

Check out the links below for more information on the HISD District 8 race:

* Juliet Stipeche campaign finance report.
* Judith Cruz campaign finance report.
* Roberto Centeno campaign finance report.
* Peter Schwethelm campaign finance report.
* Dorothy Olmos campaign finance report.
* Video: Cruz, Stipeche and Centeno discuss parent involvement at a candidate forum sponsored by Parents for Public Schools of Houston.
* Parents for Public Schools of Houston Q&A with candidates.

Texas Watchdog wants to hear from you. Contact Lynn Walsh at Lynn@TexasWatchdog.org, 713-228-2850 or on Twitter @LWalsh.