El Paso Matters – 40 candidates file for El Paso school board races: Here’s who’s running

At least 40 candidates are running in the May 3 election for school board seats across El Paso County, at a time when many districts are facing uncertain futures in the face of declining enrollment and budget deficits.

The candidates are running to serve on the El Paso, Socorro, Ysleta, Anthony and San Elizario school boards, as well as the El Paso Community College board.

Early voting starts April 22 and ends April 29. The last day to register to vote for the election is April 3.

El Paso ISD will have four contested seats on the ballot, with candidates hoping to either shift or maintain the majority between two factions within the board that was created when it voted to close eight elementary schools.

The election will bring leadership changes to the Socorro ISD board after three incumbent trustees — Cynthia Najera, Pablo Barrera and Ricardo Castellano — did not file for spots on the ballot.

Though Barrera and Castellano are still officially on the board, they stopped attending meetings after being indicted on felony charges last summer.

Only one of the four incumbents running for the Ysleta ISD — Cruz Ochoa — will face an opponent in the May 3 election. This will be the first time Ochoa has faced a challenger since he took office in 2017. The remaining three Ysleta ISD incumbents are running unopposed. All three YISD incumbents on the ballot in 2023 ran unopposed.

EPCC has two contested seats on the ballot and one incumbent who is running unopposed. 

Four Anthony ISD Trustees are also running unopposed for at-large seats.

San Elizario will also have three seats on the ballot. The district has not announced if any candidates have filed to run.

School boards are responsible for hiring and evaluating a superintendent; adopting a budget and tax rate; and setting goals, policies and priorities for the district to follow. They are in charge of overseeing their school district and often have the final say in major decisions such as large purchases or contracts.

Elected trustees will take office as school districts prepare their budgets for the coming school year and figure out ways to address ongoing deficits.

Others will have to deal with the fallout of previous decisions including closing several EPISD elementary schools and announcing plans to lay off 300 SISD employees.

School board members are nonpartisan and are unpaid. They serve four-year terms with no term limits.

Trustee elections are held in May or November, depending on the school district. The Clint, Canutillo and Fabens school board held their most recent elections in November.

Here’s who’s running for school board:

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