{"id":36465,"date":"2025-11-05T14:39:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T14:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/36465\/"},"modified":"2025-11-05T14:39:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T14:39:10","slug":"sisters-in-law-win-lake-worth-isd-trustee-races-as-state-takeover-looms-unofficial-results-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/36465\/","title":{"rendered":"Sisters-in-law win Lake Worth ISD trustee races as state takeover looms, unofficial results show"},"content":{"rendered":"

Voters elected sisters-in-law to the Lake Worth ISD board as the district faces possible state intervention<\/a>, according to unofficial early voting results.<\/p>\n

Returns showed incumbent Tammy Thomas and her sister-in-law, Mary Wilson Coker, winning in their respective races, according to unofficial early vote totals from Tarrant County elections.<\/p>\n

Thomas won the Place 1 race with 69.5% of the vote over challenger Donald Bivens, according to the early returns as of 12:05 a.m. Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Coker led the Place 2 race with 68.2% of the vote, ahead of incumbent Bret Tooke, who joined the board in 2018.<\/p>\n

Board President Armando Velazquez ran unopposed for Place 3.<\/p>\n

The results come as Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath weighs whether to appoint a state board of managers or close Marilyn Miller Language Academy, which has received five consecutive F grades on the state\u2019s academic accountability system.<\/p>\n

Thomas, first elected in 2013, said she sought another term after the district received a June warning letter from the Texas Education Agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsidering the position that we are in \u2026 I felt obligated to serve another term and to try to help us recover from this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Coker, a retired school counselor and substitute teacher, said she is encouraged by early improvements under Superintendent Mark Ramirez, hired in May.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a process,\u201d Coker said. \u201cI feel like we\u2019re moving in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both women said they support cooperating closely with state officials as the district works to regain stability.<\/p>\n

The two ran low-budget campaigns: Thomas reported a $100 contribution from Lake Worth city council member Sherrie Watkins and spent about $1,300; Coker reported no fundraising and similar expenses.<\/p>\n

The new board will soon confront whatever decision Morath makes about state action \u2014 whether that means retaining local control or yielding authority to a board of managers.<\/p>\n

Texas Education Agency officials have not announced when Morath will decide whether to appoint a board of managers.<\/p>\n

If he does, appointed members would assume full governing authority \u2014 approving budgets, adopting policy and evaluating the superintendent \u2014 while elected trustees remain in office without power.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s note: This story was published Nov. 4, 2025, and updated at 8:21 a.m. Nov. 5 with unofficial results.<\/p>\n

Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @matthewsgroi1<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n

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