By Karen Gavis/editor-in-chief

A TCC board of trustees election will not be held this year because the three incumbent trustees attracted no opposition.

Potential candidates had until March 1 to file in the race for the single-member seats held by trustees Conrad Heede, Gwendolyn Morrison and Louise Appleman in districts 2, 6 and 7.

Elections are held every two years in odd-numbered years. Because the seats were uncontested, none of the board members were sent packing. And as a result, the college will not incur the expense of an election, for which associate vice chancellor of finance Nancy Chang said $250,000 was earmarked.

Chang said while single board members may have been unopposed in the past, elections had still been conducted and it was unusual for there to be no opposition at all.

“As I recall, the board member may not have an opponent, but there is always an election,” she said. “In the same election, there may be two or three board members up for re-election. It has never happened before without there being a board election.” 

The election had been scheduled for May 11 in a partnership with Tarrant County election resources.

Election attorney Tom Carr said the partnership is less expensive for the college.

“There’s a lot to it nowadays,” he said. “They not only do it properly, but they do it very, very cost-effectively.”

Heede, who also serves on several committees, said TCC is at a crossroads in many areas and needs the most qualified people at all levels including the board.

“Community colleges are being asked to do more with less financial resources,” he said.

“Our state funding has diminished greatly over recent years. It is neither prudent nor advisable to increase property taxes, and we do not want to raise tuition.”

Heede is looking forward to the continued opportunity to serve TCCD and the community, he said.

Appleman is pleased to run unopposed but admitted some concern.

“When no one filed against any of us, I was somewhere between the voters must be really pleased with how things are going at TCC and no one really cares,” she said.

Appleman said things are going well for TCC, and she is glad to be part of it.