Katy ISD board members Rebecca Fox and Dawn Champagne have officially been declared winners in the May 4 board of trustees election, which garnered the highest voter turnout in district history.

CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT: Katy ISD’s transgender policy under investigation by Department of Education

At Monday’s board of trustees meeting, the board certified the results of the election, and Fox and Champagne were sworn into office. 

Fox and Champagne, both incumbents, defeated opponents Donovan Campell and David Olson for Positions 6 and 7. Fox and Champagne have both served on the Katy ISD school board since 2021.

Record-setting election turnout

The voter turnout was the highest in district history by 33%, reported Justin Graham, general counsel for Katy ISD. More than 16,000 voters cast votes in the election.

In the weeks leading up to the election, campaigns became heated, with Campbell and Olson sending out mailers that accused their opponents of being extremist liberals. Campbell and Olson also accepted endorsements from Republican political action groups, and Campbell accepted campaign funds from action groups based outside Texas.

In response to the mailers, Fox said school board races should not center on whether candidates are Republican or Democrat, noting that school boards are supposed to be nonpartisan in Texas.

“I love that I won on my own merits without tearing down my opponent,” Champagne said at Monday’s meeting.

KATY INSIDER: Can’t-miss Katy coverage, right to your inbox

Fox and Champagne were endorsed by Katy Educational Excellence Partners, a nonpartisan political action group formed by Katy community members specifically for the 2024 election cycle to “elect school board trustees who are committed to providing excellent public education for all and to maintain Katy ISD’s reputation as an excellent leader in public education,” according to the organization’s Facebook group.

At the meeting, Fox thanked the Katy community for reelecting her and preventing out-of-state political groups from influencing the school board.

“This community has voted for public schools, for our children and families and for our teachers and staff,” Fox said. “This result was the outcome of grassroots efforts to protect our school district from outside influence.”

Champagne, who has long maintained that the job of the Katy ISD school board is to support the district, not issue mandates to it, had a message for her fellow board members.

“I hope that the rest of the board realizes the impact of this and what it means for the board,” she said. “We are here to listen to the community.”