Four candidates vie for two Ennis school board seats

Longtime trustee Tommy Aguilar seeks reelection, while Kelly McManus steps down

Apr. 19, 2026 at 6:00am

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A bold, stylized illustration of stacked textbooks in a repeating grid, rendered in a vibrant neon color scheme with heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the importance of school board decisions.The Ennis school board election will determine new leadership to oversee policies impacting thousands of local students.Ennis Today

The Ennis Independent School District has a seven-member Board of Trustees, with two seats up for election on May 2. Incumbent Tommy Aguilar of Place 2 is running for reelection, while Kelly McManus of Place 1 is not seeking another term. Four candidates are vying for the two open positions on the school board.

Why it matters

School board elections are crucial for determining the direction and priorities of local public education. With two seats open, the new trustees elected will help shape policies around curriculum, budgets, facilities, and more that impact thousands of students and families in Ennis.

The details

The two seats up for election are Place 1, currently held by Kelly McManus, and Place 2, held by Tommy Aguilar. McManus is not running again, while Aguilar is seeking reelection. The four candidates running are Samantha Flores, Raul Hernandez, Olivia Perez, and Javier Rodriguez.

  • The Ennis ISD school board election will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
  • Kelly McManus' term on the school board is set to expire this month.

The players

Kelly McManus

The current trustee for Place 1 on the Ennis ISD school board, who is not seeking reelection.

Tommy Aguilar

The current trustee for Place 2 on the Ennis ISD school board, who is running for reelection.

Samantha Flores

One of four candidates running for the two open school board seats.

Raul Hernandez

One of four candidates running for the two open school board seats.

Olivia Perez

One of four candidates running for the two open school board seats.

Javier Rodriguez

One of four candidates running for the two open school board seats.

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What they’re saying

“As a parent and longtime community member, I'm running to ensure Ennis schools continue providing a high-quality education that prepares our kids for the future.”

— Samantha Flores, School board candidate

“My experience on the board has been invaluable, and I'm eager to keep working on the issues that matter most to Ennis families.”

— Tommy Aguilar, Incumbent school board trustee

What’s next

Voters in Ennis will head to the polls on May 2 to elect two new school board trustees from the four candidates running.

The takeaway

With two open seats on the Ennis ISD school board, this election represents an opportunity for new voices and perspectives to join the district's leadership and shape the future of public education in the community.