By Edmond Ortiz
Edgewood Independent School District voters have a full slate of candidates to consider in the district’s Nov. 3 board election.
A community-wide sense of dissatisfaction with current district leadership has prompted several parents and political newcomers to challenge the sitting trustees who are on the ballot.
Place 1
Incumbent and current board President James Hernandez is seeking another four-year term as a trustee. The education entrepreneur and 2010 Kennedy High School graduate holds a doctorate in interdisciplinary learning and teaching from UT San Antonio.
Hernandez also serves with the Las Palmas Neighborhood Association, and the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education. He did not respond to Focus on San Antonio’s voters’ guide questionnaire.
Dora Maldonado, a digital creator and a health peer specialist, did not respond to Focus on San Antonio’s voters’ guide questionnaire. In announcing her candidacy on Facebook, Maldonado said she is advocating for transparency and accountability from district leadership.
Place 2
Incumbent and board Secretary Frank Espinosa hopes to receive another four-year term in office. A Memorial High School alumni, Espinosa has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UTSA.
Espinosa has 20-plus years experience in fundraising and volunteerism with several local corporate community initiatives and nonprofits, including companies such as Valero Energy Corp., NuStar Energy, Edgewood Education Foundation, and Haven for Hope.
Espinosa did not respond to Focus on San Antonio’s voters’ guide questionnaire. But in a campaign flyer, he is promoting his accounting and finance background, as well as demands for fiscal responsibility, and the gradual improvement in campus accountability ratings.
Jose “Joe” Gallegos II is semi-retired, and has been a community economic development consultant and advocate. He previously worked as a high school counselor, served with Project Stay, a federally funded Upward Bound program, and started several community-based nonprofits focused on helping youth and families.
Additionally, Gallegos is the immediate past president of the Thompson Neighborhood Association, and served on the former Bexar Metropolitan Water District board. He also ran for the Alamo Colleges District board.
Gallegos said years of poor academic performance and student attendance, and lack of transparency and accountability, are driving EISD residents to call for reform.
Gallegos’ goals, if elected, are to seek an independent district audit, an evaluation of the superintendent, and a moratorium on campus closures. He also wants to develop a plan to improve student attendance, teacher morale and retention, and school safety.
“My goal is to improve the image of the district, instill pride and honor back to the district, and make it great again,” he added.
Elias Hernandez is a full-time parent and construction professional who says advocating for his children has given him experience working with district administrators.
“My background in construction has also taught me leadership, budgeting, accountability, problem-solving, and the importance of completing a job correctly and responsibly,” he added.
If elected, Hernandez’s priorities would be improving student achievement, addressing substandard educational outcomes, demanding transparency, accountability, and responsible management of district funding, and strengthening parental involvement and communication while ensuring students and teachers receive necessary resources and support.
“I am running because I am a father who wants better for the children and families of Edgewood ISD. I believe parents deserve a stronger voice, greater transparency and accountability,” he added. “I want to help improve educational outcomes, protect our district’s future, and ensure every student has an opportunity to succeed.”
Place 3
Dorothy Borjas is a program coordinator whose professional background includes quality review, customer service, problem-solving, and working directly with families.
Borjas’ experience with EISD leadership comes from being an involved parent and community advocate who has attended board meetings, communicated with district and campus administrators, asked questions, and advocated for students and families.
“These experiences have taught me the importance of listening, accountability, and making sure families feel heard,” she said.
Borjas said she is running for the school board because parents have a responsibility to be a voice for children at the board dais. Her top priorities are student achievement, raising transparency and accountability, and boosting parental and community engagement.
“I want to bring transparency, accountability, and meaningful parent involvement to our district,” she added.
Marcus Guerra did not respond to Focus on San Antonio’s voters’ guide questionnaire.
Incumbent Richard Santoyo seeks another four-year term as an EISD board member. The Kennedy High School alumni has a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, and spent 30-plus years working with the San Antonio Fire Department.
Santoyo did not respond to Focus on San Antonio’s voters’ guide questionnaire.
Place 6
Joey Cipriano did not respond to Focus on San Antonio’s voters’ guide questionnaire.
Incumbent Michael Valdez is pursuing another four-year term with the school board. Among the first graduates of the Edgewood Fine Arts Academy, Valdez has served with local youth-driven panels such as the San Antonio Youth Commission, the Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives, and the San Antonio Higher Education Student Advisory Board.
Valdez is currently attending San Antonio College, and plans to major in public administration at UT San Antonio. He also volunteers with several local groups and community initiatives.
Valdez did not respond to Focus on San Antonio’s voters’ guide questionnaire.
Where and when to vote
Early voting in Bexar County will be held 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 19-23, and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 24 and 26-30, and noon-6 p.m. Oct. 25 at 56 voting stations, including Las Palmas Library, 515 Castroville Road, and Macdonia Baptist Church, 111 Hobart St. Election Day polling locations will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
