KYLE — The Hays CISD Board of Trustees will see Raul Vela Jr. returning, alongside new faces Katy Armstrong and Alex Zavala, following the Saturday, May 2, election for a 2026-29 term.
Candidates were able to file for the election from Jan. 14 to Feb. 13, with early voting occurring April 20-28.
According to unofficial canvas results, Armstrong won the Single Member District 2 seat with 184 votes, or 64.11%, while Jose Luis Perez garnered 103 votes, or 35.98%.
Armstrong noted that her election to the board is a continuation of her involvement in the community, as she has previously served on the district’s Facilities and Bonds Oversight Committee and ran an in-home preschool.
She advocates for restoring stipends for teachers, following Hays CISD’s $12 million in budget cuts, and an incremental approach for tax increases to allow the transition to be more palatable to voters.
“While this is a single-member position, I will still represent all students, families and staff across the district with integrity, honesty and passion,” said Armstrong. “This is my heart; this is my home [and] this is my community. Serving on the school board seems like a natural place to continue to give.”
The Trustee At-Large position, previously held by Vanessa Petrea, will be filled by Zavala, who received 696 votes, or 54.46%. Opponent Ashlee Thurston had 582 votes, or 45.54%.
He emphasized his deep roots in the district, having graduated from Hays High School, and involvement in Parent Teacher Associations, the School Health Advisory and Facilities and Oversight committees.
Although Zavala supports trying for a tax increase, due to limited legislature funding, he emphasized pushing public education and outreach, as many community members are unaware of ongoing situations within the district. He also hopes to maintain Career and Technical Education programs, since his own children have participated in the cosmetology and nursing programs.
“Some folks are going to come in and come out. I’m not going anywhere … Everything I do has to be calculated and I have to have a passion for it. This is something I have a passion for,” closed Zavala.
Vela, who has served since 2020, was unopposed for the Single Member District 1 seat and received 130 votes at 100%.
All results remain unofficial until canvassed. To learn more about the election, visit www.hayscisd.net/o/hcisd/page/election2026 or bit.ly/4tR2N0g to view voting results.
