Local attorney Angela Tekell had a hopeful feeling Saturday that running for the Waco school board District 4 seat was the right thing to do.

She’s now sure it was the right thing after she won the seat with 64 percent of the votes over 12-year school board veteran Debbie Luce.

Tekell, 45, drew 1,541 votes, and the incumbent Luce, 55, garnered 857 votes.

Angela Tekell
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

“Hope” was the word Tekell turned to several times, shortly after learning of her victory.

“I hope it represents people saying they want better,” she said. “I think it’s been a long time since the community has been hopeful.”

For weeks, Tekell went door to door in District 4 every day after work and more on the weekends. She said hitting the pavement probably helped her campaign, but she felt it was worthwhile for more than the votes it may have brought her.

“I wish I could have done more because people really wanted to talk,” she said.

One of Tekell’s priorities once she takes her seat on the school board is better communication with parents and the community.

She also wants to have input on a long-range plan the district is crafting, attach reachable goals and deadlines to it and name who will be held accountable for each piece.

Taking care of Waco ISD’s teachers is another goal Tekell said she wants to move to the top of her list.

“I’ve talked to a lot of teachers the last couple of weeks and they’re really the key to improvement,” she said.

Background

Tekell is the mother of a Waco ISD graduate and current eighth-grader in the district. She also is a former teacher who left her law practice four years ago and spent two years teaching criminal justice at University High School.

Luce, also a mother of Waco ISD graduates and a Waco ISD and Baylor University graduate, has been involved with Waco education endeavors, including the school board, for years. She could not be reached for comment Saturday night.

According to campaign finance reports, Debbie Luce took in about $10,145 in campaign contributions between March 8 and April 30. During the same time period, Tekell’s campaign received $11,320 in contributions, according to finance reports.

School board President Allen Sykes, who ran unopposed for the District 5 seat, will return for another term.

wgragg@wacotrib.com

757-6901

RELATED SEARCHES

• Election results for McLennan County: May 8, 2010
• Voters OK $25 million bond for Riesel ISD
• Bush elected mayor of Waco in solid win
• Wilbert Austin re-elected to Waco City Council
• Sibley and Birdwell advance to runoff in state Senate race