Correction: This story has been updated to reflect accurate vote totals for Tammy Meinershagen and Burt Thakur from the city of Frisco.
Correction: A previous version of this story stated Frisco ISD races were headed for a runoff. Frisco ISD winners are selected by a plurality, not a majority.
Frisco voters appeared to roundly reject a $160 million bond for a performing arts center.
Propositions A and B would have gone toward a center with space for both large- and small-scale local and regional productions, performances, and visual arts exhibitions, and include a 2,800-seat performance hall to accommodate Broadway performances and a 300-400-seat community hall.
About 60% of voters voted against Prop A, while about 65% voted against Prop B.
Frisco voters also cast ballots for city council members and three Frisco ISD school board trustees. Here are the results, according to preliminary election results on Saturday night with nearly all vote centers reporting.
City of Frisco
Place 2
The Place 2 race appeared headed for a runoff with incumbent Tammy Meinershagen, Burt Thakur and Sai Krishnarajanagar all failing to garner more than 50% of the vote, according to preliminary election results.
The top two vote-getters were Thakur with about 43% and Meinershagen with about 41%.
Meinershagen has been a council member since 2022 and serves as the Frisco city council鈥檚 deputy Mayor Pro Tem. Her bio on the lists her experience as the chair of the council鈥檚 governance committee and vice chair of the city鈥檚 legislative committee. She was also named a Texas Municipal League Fellow and serves the city as primary member on the Regional Transportation Council with the North Texas Council of Governments.
Her campaign website touts Meinershagen鈥檚 efforts to lower Frisco鈥檚 property tax rate for three consecutive years and support for Frisco鈥檚 Rail District, which aims to make the city鈥檚 downtown 鈥渁 walkable destination for the community.鈥�
Meinershagen lists affordability, developing Frisco鈥檚 arts and culture scene and sustainability as priorities for a second term.
鈥淔risco is on a successful trajectory right now, but we can't allow our city to become a flash in the pan or a 鈥榟as-been,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淲e must build a city that stands the test of time.鈥�
Thakur, an engineer and Navy veteran, was the Jeopardy! champion during Alex Trebek鈥檚 final season as host according to The Denton Record Chronicle. He ran in the Texas Congressional District 26 GOP primary and lost the nomination to Brandon Gill, who later won the seat. He also ran for Congress in California鈥檚 25th Congressional District in a 2022 primary.
Place 4
None of the five candidates in this race reached more than 50% of the vote, and the race would likely head to a runoff between Jared Elad and Gopal Ponangi.
The incumbent for this seat, Bill Woodard, is termed out and can鈥檛 run again.
is married to Frisco ISD school board trustee Stephanie Elad, who appeared likely to win her race. He is the founder and wealth advisor at . He lists fiscal responsibility and transparency as one of the issues he would prioritize if elected on his campaign website.
鈥淲ith more than 16 years of experience as a financial advisor, I have a strong track record of managing budgets, ensuring financial accountability, and helping individuals and businesses reach their financial goals,鈥� Elad said on his website.
Other priorities he lists on his website include community friendly development, public safety and responsible growth.
Ponangi, on his campaign website, told the nonpartisan voting initiative that his policy priorities include public safety, jobs, low taxes and traffic.
Frisco ISD
Place 1
Suresh Manduva was elected with about 40% of the vote according to . The incumbent, Gopal Ponangi, ran for Frisco city council Place 4.
Manduva listed his occupation as software engineer on his application for a place on the ballot. He announced his intent to run for the school board , where he thanked several supporters, including Ponangi and Frisco City Council member John Keating.
Place 2
Renee Sample was elected with about 48% of the vote.
Sample serves on the city of Frisco鈥檚 Multicultural Committee board. She was also the past president of the , which provides Frisco ISD students financial resources through educational programs, scholarships and grants for educators.
The Dallas Morning News鈥� editorial board endorsed Sample for the seat.
鈥淪ample earned our recommendation because of the greater breadth of her experience,鈥� the editorial board wrote.
Place 3
Stephanie Elad was reelected with about 46% of the vote, defeating Stuart Shulman.
Elad was first elected in 2022. The Dallas Morning News鈥� editorial board endorsed her for another term, citing Elad鈥檚 work on addressing the district鈥檚 declining enrollment.
鈥淓lad supports the Access Frisco initiative, that allows a small number of students from nearby districts to attend Frisco schools,鈥� the board wrote.
Elad鈥檚 website lists several endorsements from local representatives, including State Senator Angela Paxton, Texas House members Matt Shaheen and Jared Patterson and Texas state board of education member Pam Little. She also has endorsements from the Collin County GOP, Collin County Conservative Republicans and the Denton County Conservative Coalition.
Shulman has a degree in music education and is the director of product management for Ultimate Drill Book, a music education software company, according to his campaign website.
He also serves as the arts in education chair for the Frisco ISD PTA. He lists student achievement, cooperation, accountability, and innovation as things he鈥檇 prioritize if elected.
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Caroline Love is a corps member for 四虎影院.
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