Tacoma School Board seat was up for grabs Tuesday. Here’s who ahead
Lisa Keating is in the lead for Tacoma Public Schools’ Board of Directors Position 1 and will likely retain her seat, early results show.
Keating received 68.50% of the votes compared to her opponent, Caleb Fahey’s 31.12%. There was about a 19.67% turnout. Results will be certified Nov. 25, according to the Pierce County General Election results page.
Keating leads with 18,340 votes to Fahey’s 8,332.
Lisa Keating, 54, won her seat in 2019 after running against 30-year incumbent Debbie Winskill. She is the executive director of the Washington State LGBTQ Commission.
Keating ran her campaign on her experience and the work she has done as a current school board member. She hopes to “fight for every school and protect them from discriminatory policies.”
The election comes at the heels of a contentious budgeting process for the school district. The district in the last academic year faced a roughly $30 million budget deficit, which was addressed through implementing extensive cuts to staff positions.
“We’ve navigated unprecedented challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and budget shortfalls all while boosting our graduation rates to the highest in district history,” Keating said on her website.
Fahey, a father to six, is a pastor and associate at Sozo Church in Tacoma, according to his campaign website. He is running to “help build a future where every child knows they matter. That they have purpose and their life holds value.”
“I believe every child deserves a safe, strong, and supportive learning environment — and every parent deserves a voice in how their children are educated,” according to his website.
In their respective campaigns, Fahey raised $8,958.47, while Keating raised $4,923.62
Keating had a strong primary election with 65% of the votes compared to Fahey’s 19%.
This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 8:24 PM.
