Austin ISD's at-large runoff is off: Cynthia Soliz withdraws, citing the cost, and Pamela Mathai takes the seat

Austin ISD will not hold a runoff for its at-large District 9 seat. Cynthia Soliz withdrew Monday night and conceded to Pamela Mathai, Austin Current reported Tuesday. KXAN also reported the concession, citing Soliz's social media post.

Soliz cited the district's finances. In a video posted to Facebook, she said she could not justify the cost of another election while the district cuts its budget. "I personally cannot ask that $350,000 be spent on an election for me," she said, according to Austin Current.

The district told Austin Current that individual runoff elections have cost it between $208,500 and $362,000 over the past 12 years.

What state law does with a withdrawal

Texas Election Code section 145.095 says that if a runoff candidate withdraws, "the remaining candidate is considered to be elected and the runoff election for that office is not held."

Mathai is expected to be sworn in Thursday with the three other newly elected trustees, Jessica "Jessie" Neufeld, Sarah Dille and Laurie Solis, Austin Current reported. Incumbent Candace Hunter won reelection in District 1. "I can't stop smiling," Mathai told the outlet. She said she wants to work with the new board on special education and dual language programs.

How close the race was

The seat went to a runoff because no one won a majority on Nov. 3. With Election Day ballots counted, Mathai had 42.9% and Soliz 42.8%, Community Impact reported in an update at 7 a.m. Nov. 4, as our election story noted. A third candidate, Kirk Becker, had about 13% in early returns. Those figures are unofficial.

What our records add

The school board is a separate government from the city, but the two keep crossing paths.

A shared runoff date, now just the city's. The AISD runoff would have been on the same Dec. 12 ballot as the City Council runoffs in Districts 1, 3 and 5. Those runoffs go ahead. The council is set to order them at its Nov. 17 canvass meeting.

The money behind the decision. The district cut more than $205 million from its budget this year and plans to cut another $60 million, Austin Current reported. Campus land has been part of the answer. In July the council rezoned the former Brooke Elementary site at AISD's request, 10-0. Our story on the cuts has more.

The city's own AISD spending. On Nov. 5 the council approved, without objection, an agreement for the Literacy First reading program in Austin ISD schools, $100,000 a year with up to four renewals.

Closed campuses. In March the council passed, 6-2, a resolution asking the city manager to explore partnerships with school districts to reuse closed campuses. Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member José Velásquez voted no.

The board Mathai joins

The new trustees take office with the district under pressure from two state agencies.

• The comptroller's review. The district stopped cooperating with the outgoing state comptroller's spending review this week, and findings are due Dec. 31. Our story explains what comes next.
• Webb and Burnet. The district must send its plans for Webb and Burnet middle schools to the state by Dec. 1, after a fifth straight failing rating. Under state law, that could lead the education commissioner to close the campuses or replace the elected board. Our explainer lays out the options.

What's next

• Thursday, Nov. 12: New trustees sworn in, according to Austin Current. It is also the last day to register to vote in the city runoffs.
• Dec. 1: Webb and Burnet plans due to the Texas Education Agency.
• Nov. 30 to Dec. 8: Early voting in the council runoffs.
• Dec. 12: Runoff Election Day in Districts 1, 3 and 5.