Plano ISD incumbents sweep election with one new addition
Newcomer Dr. Lauren Tyra replaces current school board president Tammy Richards, who decided to not seek reelection.
The Plano ISD building on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019.(Lynda M. Gonzalez / Staff Photographer)
All Plano ISD board of trustees seeking reelection secured additional terms on May 1.
The district announced the following results on Facebook:
Trustee, Place 1
Dr. Lauren Tyra, 62% of the vote
She replaces current board president Tammy Richards, who was elected to a third term on the school board in 2017. Richards had decided to not seek re-election this year. Tyra defeated two other candidates: Semida Voicu and Shafik Ben Guesmia.
Results are still being counted.
In the Place 1 race, Tyra has 62.6% to Semida Voicu s 33.1% and Shafik Ben Guesmia s 4.3% in the early voting totals. Tyra is a venture capital scientific analyst, while Guesmia is the chief executive officer of contract management firm Cemendus Inc. and Semida Voicu is a small-business owner. Place 1 is currently held by Board President Tammy Richards, who decided not to run for re-election.
Powell leads the Place 2 race with 52.3% to Dayna Oscherwitz s 43.4% and Ajikwaga Felli s 4.4% in the early voting totals. Powell, the chief executive officer of Powell Advantage, is seeking her second four-year term on the board. Felli is a dentist and co-owner of Cuddly Smiles Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, while Oscherwitz is a professor of francophone studies and assistant provost for general education at Southern Methodist University.
Compare North Texas municipal candidates side by side dallasnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dallasnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Contact: 917-803-5827;
Why did you decide to run for the Plano ISD board of trustees?
AF: The main driving factor was the vacant slots in two places during the first couple of weeks of filing. I have a child in the school district and will have children in it for a long time. The board plays a key role in shaping the school district and I thought I could contribute positively to its growth. My background in public health and international exposure can also potentially add to the diversity and overall strength of the board.
How has your experience prepared you for board service?