After the general election ended and votes were counted on May 12, the candidates were told that Temple school board elections must be decided by majority vote. With no clear winner in either district, the top two candidates in each district were forced into a runoff.
Ms. Suarez defeated Fogleman, 140-126, in the runoff. In the final vote in the May 12 election, Fogleman had received 77 votes to Ms. Suarez’s 58. She said the results of the first election inspired her to be more proactive, but she said she was prepared to win or lose.
“I think the first time I wanted to win because I’ve been on (the board) for so long, but this run-off election put it in perspective,” Ms. Suarez said. “If this was God’s will, I was going to be happy no matter what the outcome was. Obviously, God still has a plan for me to follow on the board and I’m going to continue to serve the students and the people of my community to the best of my abilities.”
She said the main reason for the increased turnout was a strong showing from the Hispanic community.
“I think many of them have been around but have not been active in voting and felt disenchanted,” Suarez said. “I think the outcome of the first election made them sit down and think, ‘We’re not utilizing our rights and we need to step up and do what we need to do.’ ”
Fogleman said that while he thought he initially had won the election in May, he doesn’t harbor any resentment.
“I do (feel cheated) but I’m over that. Because (the majority vote requirement) came out after the election, you have to question the timing. I don’t want to make it look like I have any hard feelings. This second race was fair.”
Fogleman said he thought it would be tough to win.
“It’s unfortunate (but) I wasn’t totally shocked,” he said. “I could tell from early voting that she really got the votes out. During the race I heard a definite cry for change in the community; unfortunately I wasn’t able to convert that cry into votes in District 1.”
With fewer candidates, no bond election to bring in the voters, and summer vacation already nine days old, the number of votes in District 7 declined. But at the end of the day, Mrs. Klentzman received 190 votes, to Mrs. Ozment’s 185.
“It was very close,” Mrs. Klentzman said. “There was no way to tell leading up to the end.”
She characterized the election as “long and tiring.”
“I’m just very grateful for the people who helped with this campaign,” she said. “It was worth it, whether I won or not, because I got to meet so many wonderful people and I feel richer because of it.”
Mrs. Ozment was already looking to the future, saying she would run again for the school board next year.
“We worked hard and did everything we could do,” she said. “I met so many new friends through this election process.”
kchandler@temple-telegram.com
