On Monday May 15, the Austin Chamber's Education Council and a representative from the Austin Hispanic Chamber met with two of the three candidates for the vacant Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees seat.

All three candidates were invited. Alejandro Xavier Delgado attended and Geronimo M. Rodriguez, who had a long-standing conflict sent Husch Blackwell attorney Julian Rivera as a surrogate.

A list of their written responses to a number of pre-determined questions can be found by visiting https://www.austinisd.org/board/vacancy. The Austin Chamber does not endorse candidates for public office. Austin ISD Board of Trustees plan to name the next Trustee at their June 12 meeting, after three opportunities for the public to interact with the candidates. More information can be found here.

Alejandro Delgado

Delgado introduced himself as a born and raised resident of Austin, Texas. Delgado detailed his time at Georgetown University where he majored in International Affairs, his time working with Teach for America and his subsequent placement in Brownsville working for the IDEA public school

During the Q&A session, Delgado discussed the need to distribute human resources employed by Austin ISD more effectively, especially in Pre-K - 3rd grade, to minimize issues that often arise during the 3rd - 6th grade levels.

When asked about whether Austin ISD should revisit creating in-district charters, Delgado stressed the role of charter schools to be an important one, that AISD should be open to the innovative practices and instructional frameworks, but that now is not the time to create more in-district charters.

In all, Delgado stressed his ability to bring “diversity from the bottom” to the Austin Board of Trustees if given the opportunity to represent District 6 in the future. A message which he argues will “make sure every single kid, no matter of color or background gets a chance”.

Julian Rivera o.b.o Geronimo M. Rodriguez

Rivera introduced Rodriguez as the child of migrant farmers who attended St. Edward’s University through the College Assistance Migrant Program. Following graduation, Rodriguez went on to become a bond lawyer, which he subsequently left in order to work in health/public Seton Healthcare-Texas. Rodriguez has served as a Tri-Chair of the 2008 Austin ISD bond committee, president of the Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a board member on the national PTA.

During the Q&A session, Rivera communicated Rodriguez wanted the Trustee job to “be part of the team that moves Austin ISD forward.” Rivera described the candidate as a “mature & pragmatic listener” with a deep commitment to the public school system.

Rivera stressed that the candidate wanted to focus on Special education & dual language efforts in order to address equity within the Austin Independent School District. Rivera detailed the candidate’s ability to communicate across cultures is not only what Geronimo has been doing at Seton Healthcare, but what Rodriguez seeks to also do within the AISD school system.

In all Rivera described Rodriguez to hold a desire to support leadership and governance in AISD. Rivera concluded by stating: “This is a man who takes his job seriously, takes his family seriously, and takes this commitment seriously.”