Waco Independent School District’s board reached a stalemate Thursday on whether to call a May 2 special election to replace departing at-large Trustee Keith Guillory, making it likely that an appointee will fill out the remaining year of his term.
The board Thursday accepted Guillory’s resignation, effective May 2. Guillory, a Waco Fire Department deputy marshal and a board member since 2021, submitted the resignation Monday.
He told The Waco Bridge he is moving to his native Houston and will be a deputy chief in the suburban Memorial Village Fire Department.
The board has the choice to call a special election by Feb. 21 or appoint a replacement within 180 days, according to Waco ISD Chief of Staff Elizabeth Cox. Any special election would have to be called before the next regular board meeting Feb. 26.
Guillory was not present at the meeting Thursday as board members debated how to fill his seat.
Trustee Taylor Bledsoe opposed calling a special election due to the short window a candidate would have to prepare to run for election.
“Just as someone who just ran a campaign a year ago, I know how hard that is, how much time it takes, especially if you have never done it before,” Bledsoe said. “And that first month is very, very difficult and very overwhelming.”
Trustee Jeremy Davis disagreed, saying an appointment would deprive voters of a choice in Guillory’s replacement.
“I understand that legally we have the choice, but that doesn’t mean we’re not taking away from the voters if we choose an appointment,” Davis said. “We are literally not giving the voters a chance to vote.”
Bledsoe argued that it was appropriate for the board to make the appointment.
“Ultimately, the law affords us the ability to appoint someone,” Bledsoe said. “We are elected officials, and the law affords us – as elected officials – the ability to appoint.”
Trustee Angelo Ochoa sided with Bledsoe, saying an appointment is not permanent.
“It’s not a lifetime appointment here,” Ochoa said. “I mean, we’re not taking an election away from someone. You’re just delaying an election if you appoint someone, if that person doesn’t work out, then either way, the community is going to speak.”
The board has made appointments frequently in recent years, most recently with Arash Abnoussi replacing Place 2 Trustee Stephanie Korteweg upon her resignation in May 2025. Abnoussi is up for re-election in May.
At the meeting Thursday, Abnoussi pointed out that Board President Jose Vidaña was also originally appointed to the board.
He shared concerns about the limited time before the election.
“We have some of the best people who we have appointed through this process,” Abnoussi said. “Now that being said, my hesitations are the timeline. I feel like it’s a short timeline to do this May election.”
In many cases, appointed board members have gone on to run in the next election, though they don’t always win. For example, appointed Trustee Robin Houston lost to Guillory in the 2021 election.
“Some people got unseated after they were appointed to the board that very next election,” Davis said. “So I think that’s even more of a reason. Instead of trying to have some stability on the board, it would be great to have someone who’s elected and can put in the work.”
Vidaña said that if the board goes forward with appointing a new board member, it could be a more time-intensive process. Guillory represents an at-large district, which could mean a larger than usual applicant pool, he said.
The board Thursday started to vote to move forward with the application process, then voted 4-2 to table the decision. Vidaña and Davis voted no to tabling the measure while Ochoa, Bledsoe, Patton and Abnoussi voted yes.
Cox said that if the board decides at its Feb. 26 meeting to start the appointment process, it could take five weeks to wrap up.
Guillory said in an interview Thursday with The Waco Bridge that his time in Waco has been rewarding.
“I had an opportunity to save lives as a firefighter,” he said. “But also to save lives by equipping young people with education and keeping them out of trouble and mentorship and things like that. That’s what meant the most to me: seeing those young people grow, witnessing them play sports and be in theater and plays and seeing them perform in all different areas of education.”
During his time on the board, Guillory emphasized equal opportunities for all students. He is excited about the district’s recent decision to expand the gifted and talented program.
“That’s exactly what I came along for, was to give every student that opportunity to a great education,” Guillory said. “Even bringing the rigor to our reading and also math for every student, so they can be equipped again to go to college and compete in the workforce because they receive the quality education within Waco ISD.”
