Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Board of Trustees, Place 7 – Special Election, Unexpired Term

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Brownsville ISD
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked4-way race
Steve TorresNonpartisan
Nelda RochaNelda RochaNonpartisan
Marisa Franco LealMarisa Franco LealNonpartisan
Neida Ruth Soto-GrantlandNeida Ruth Soto-GrantlandNonpartisan Incumbent
On ballot as
Steve Torres
Nelda Rocha
Marisa Franco Leal
Neida Ruth Soto-Grantland
Current role
Property manager (per his ballot application)
First vice president, Brownsville Area Retired School Employees Association (per campaign)
Operations director (per her ballot application)
Brownsville ISD trustee, Position 7 (appointed)
Background
Not found
  • Bachelor of Arts in English, University of Texas at Brownsville (per campaign)
  • Attended Texas Southmost College (per campaign)
  • Porter High School graduate (1986) (per campaign)
  • Certified elementary, English and reading teacher (per campaign)
  • BISD parent and grandparent (per campaign)
  • Girl Scout troop leader (per campaign)
  • Former Brownsville ISD trustee who brought "a parent's perspective" to the board (per campaign)
  • Former Brownsville ISD educator of more than 30 years (per KRGV)
  • Past BISD administrative roles including principal, special programs director and human resources director (per the district)
Experience
Not found
  • Ran for BISD Position 5 (November 2024); finished second of three candidates with 27.1% of the vote
  • BISD teacher, 29 years: Faulk Elementary and Besteiro, Perkins and Stell middle schools (per campaign)
  • District Educational Improvement Council member (per campaign)
  • LPAC chairperson and curriculum writer (per campaign)
  • Ran for Position 6 (November 2024 general election); lost to Minerva Peña, 51.9% to 48.1%
  • BISD trustee, Position 6 (May 14 to Nov. 14, 2024); won May 2024 special election
  • Ran for Position 6 (2020); Minerva Peña won after a recount (per The Brownsville Herald)
  • Appointed to Position 7 by unanimous board vote (June 24, 2025), to the seat left vacant by the death of Erasmo Castro
Top priorities
Not found
  • "Every student deserves the opportunity to grow, achieve, and succeed at a high level."
  • "Transparency and Accountability": "Taxpayers deserve to know how district funds are being spent."
  • "Support for Teachers and Staff": supports "investing in teachers, support personnel, and professional growth opportunities"
  • "Safe and Supportive Schools"
  • "Services for Every Student": "timely access to academic services, special education evaluations, interventions, and programs"
  • "Student Achievement": "Early literacy and math intervention"; "Expand dual-credit, CTE, and early-college options"
  • "Support Our Teachers": "Competitive pay and benefits"; "Smaller class sizes where it matters most"
  • "Safe Campuses": "Secure campuses and trained staff"; "Counselors and mental-health resources"
  • "Fiscal Responsibility": "Transparent, easy-to-read budgets"; "Classroom dollars over administrative overhead"
  • "Parents and Community": "Open, accessible board meetings"; "Regular community listening sessions"
Not found
Tidbits
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: No public statement found
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: No public statement found
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: Campaign site: "Nelda believes students deserve more than minimum expectations."
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: Campaign site: "Nelda supports transparent budgeting, clear communication, and accountability at every level of district leadership."
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: Campaign site lists "Early literacy and math intervention" and "Expand dual-credit, CTE, and early-college options"
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: Campaign site: "Every dollar should be spent where it has the greatest impact — in classrooms, not in waste."
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: No public statement found
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: No public statement found
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
None found in our research
None found in our research
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
neldarocha.com
marisaleal.com
Not found

Steve Torres

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Steve Torres
Current role
Property manager (per his ballot application)
Background
Not found
Experience
Not found
Top priorities
Not found
Tidbits
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: No public statement found
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: No public statement found
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
Nelda Rocha

Nelda Rocha

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Nelda Rocha
Current role
First vice president, Brownsville Area Retired School Employees Association (per campaign)
Background
  • Bachelor of Arts in English, University of Texas at Brownsville (per campaign)
  • Attended Texas Southmost College (per campaign)
  • Porter High School graduate (1986) (per campaign)
  • Certified elementary, English and reading teacher (per campaign)
  • BISD parent and grandparent (per campaign)
  • Girl Scout troop leader (per campaign)
Experience
  • Ran for BISD Position 5 (November 2024); finished second of three candidates with 27.1% of the vote
  • BISD teacher, 29 years: Faulk Elementary and Besteiro, Perkins and Stell middle schools (per campaign)
  • District Educational Improvement Council member (per campaign)
  • LPAC chairperson and curriculum writer (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "Every student deserves the opportunity to grow, achieve, and succeed at a high level."
  • "Transparency and Accountability": "Taxpayers deserve to know how district funds are being spent."
  • "Support for Teachers and Staff": supports "investing in teachers, support personnel, and professional growth opportunities"
  • "Safe and Supportive Schools"
  • "Services for Every Student": "timely access to academic services, special education evaluations, interventions, and programs"
Tidbits
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: Campaign site: "Nelda believes students deserve more than minimum expectations."
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: Campaign site: "Nelda supports transparent budgeting, clear communication, and accountability at every level of district leadership."
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
neldarocha.com
Marisa Franco Leal

Marisa Franco Leal

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Marisa Franco Leal
Current role
Operations director (per her ballot application)
Background
  • Former Brownsville ISD trustee who brought "a parent's perspective" to the board (per campaign)
Experience
  • Ran for Position 6 (November 2024 general election); lost to Minerva Peña, 51.9% to 48.1%
  • BISD trustee, Position 6 (May 14 to Nov. 14, 2024); won May 2024 special election
  • Ran for Position 6 (2020); Minerva Peña won after a recount (per The Brownsville Herald)
Top priorities
  • "Student Achievement": "Early literacy and math intervention"; "Expand dual-credit, CTE, and early-college options"
  • "Support Our Teachers": "Competitive pay and benefits"; "Smaller class sizes where it matters most"
  • "Safe Campuses": "Secure campuses and trained staff"; "Counselors and mental-health resources"
  • "Fiscal Responsibility": "Transparent, easy-to-read budgets"; "Classroom dollars over administrative overhead"
  • "Parents and Community": "Open, accessible board meetings"; "Regular community listening sessions"
Tidbits
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: Campaign site lists "Early literacy and math intervention" and "Expand dual-credit, CTE, and early-college options"
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: Campaign site: "Every dollar should be spent where it has the greatest impact — in classrooms, not in waste."
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
marisaleal.com
Neida Ruth Soto-Grantland

Neida Ruth Soto-Grantland

Nonpartisan Incumbent
On ballot as
Neida Ruth Soto-Grantland
Current role
Brownsville ISD trustee, Position 7 (appointed)
Background
  • Former Brownsville ISD educator of more than 30 years (per KRGV)
  • Past BISD administrative roles including principal, special programs director and human resources director (per the district)
Experience
  • Appointed to Position 7 by unanimous board vote (June 24, 2025), to the seat left vacant by the death of Erasmo Castro
Top priorities
Not found
Tidbits
  • Curriculum and instructional materials: No public statement found
  • Library books: No public statement found
  • School funding and bonds: No public statement found
  • Vouchers / school choice: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found

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