Reflecting on his election victory Saturday for Clear Creek ISD’s Position 2 trustee seat, Jamieson Mackay says he hopes the campaigns run by him and opponent Glencora Rodgers set an example to influence candidates in future district races to stick to the issues and not personal politics.
“We were hoping to set a tone that other people could follow for local campaigns in the future,” Mackay, 51, said of himself and Rodgers, another first-time candidate who he defeated with 51.8 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. “She ran a great campaign, and people have been telling us that they appreciate the fact that it was cordial and friendly.”
District 2 encompasses portions of League City, Nassau Bay, Clear Lake City and Webster. Rodgers, a 45-year-old former educator who worked in Alvin ISD, and Mackay were vying to fill the seat previously occupied by Michelle Davis, who did not seek re-election.
In a contest for the district’s Position 3 seat, incumbent Arturo Sanchez, who is director of the external relations office at Johnson Space Center, was re-elected to a third term with 58.56 percent of the vote to defeat small-business owner and engineer Peter Lauzon.
Mackay, who is an executive with Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union, cited his focus on school safety and said his financial background should aid the district in addressing budgetary concerns. But he said he did run on a single agenda.
“I’ve noticed that candidates with a single issue never seem to do well, because there is more to being a trustee than one single issue,” Mackay said. “If they do get elected, they learn quickly how complex the district is and how complex it is trying to educate 41,000 (students).
“For me, there was no preconceived agenda going in. I’m here to learn and match up what I know to be true and how my talents can best serve the board and the students of CCISD.”
Mackay believes his 26 years as a volunteer in the district provide a foundation of voter trust.
“We only have one thing in this life and it’s your reputation,” he said, “and I’ve been building mine 27 years in the district, and I think that’s a big part of why I won.”
The race between Mackay and Rodgers had Rodgers, a former educator, leading late on election night, but Mackay was able to secure a win with 715 votes to Rodgers’ 666 votes, according to unofficial results.