Voters in Coahoma turn out for ISD election

Voters head inside Dorothy Garrett Coliseum Saturday to cast ballots in the Big Spring and Coahoma municipal and school board elections. Turnout was light in all races, officials said. (HERALD photo/Steve Reagan)

While neither community set records for polling numbers, those in the Coahoma Independent School District race Saturday dwarfed figures from the Big Spring ISD contest.

 Incumbent Maria Padilla doubled up on challenger Edwin Ware in the BSISD Place 2 race, which attracted fewer than 3 percent of the registered voters in that district.

 “That's a poor turnout,” an obviously disappointed Elections Administrator Saundra Bloom said.

 Padilla earned 27 votes, compared to only 13 for Ware.

 “I'm very, very thankful to the voters, the volunteers and my family for all the help and support I got,” Padilla said. “I'm just glad it's over. It was very nerve-wracking, but it was a good experience.”

 Padilla said the district has a very big decision looming on the horizon as to what to do about aging facilities.

 “A big issue for the school board is going to be our buildings and how we can try to get them repaired,” she said. “And, as always, the most important issue will be ensuring a good education for our kids.”

 In comparison to Big Spring ISD, voter turnout was huge in Coahoma, where residents returned two incumbents and voted in a newcomer in the race for three at-large seats.

 Incumbents Jody Reid and Alan Wright were returned the board with 288 and 187 votes, respectively, while challenger Brian Moore won the third available seat with 199 votes. Incumbent Kirk Allen narrowly lost a chance at another term, receiving 172 votes.

 “Coahoma ISD had 15.6 percent of its voters cast ballots,” Bloom said. “That's a relatively good turnout.”

 Glasscock ISD voters defeated a $12 million school bond issue by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Final results show that 191 people voted against the measure, while only 87 voted in favor.

 The bond would have financed various renovations throughout the district as well as construction of a new gymnasium. 

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it