Voters elected Aaron Keenan, Jeff Kritzer and Richard Lees to the Austin School Board Tuesday. They rejected a levy operating referendum.

Keenan, Kritzer, Incumbents Lees, David Simonson and Mary Kleis, and Jeff Ollman were vying for three open seats.

Newcomer Aaron Keenan, vice president of operations at Austin Medical Center, lead the race with 2,303 votes. He came in with the most votes in five of six precincts.

“I thank the community for coming out and voting. I am happy with the school board election results, and sad about the results of the referendum,” Keenan said.

Another new face on the board will be Jeff Kritzer, an attorney and partner with Baudler, Baudler, Maus and Blahnik, LLP who took 2,104 votes.

Incumbent Richard Lees, fourteen-year board member, retired teacher and current probation officer, received 1,961.

“I am pleased I can be a part of the board for the next few years,” Lees said.

The election ends retired Austin Police Department lieutenant David Simonson’s 18-year rally on the school board — at least for now.

“I enjoyed listening to the other candidates during the forums, and I am sure those elected will do a fine job,” Simonson said.

He said he is not sure whether he will run in the future.

“I have been on the board a long time, and right now I am fine sitting back,” he said.

Incumbent candidate Mary Kleis served one term. It was Jeff Ollman’s first time running.

The levy operating referendum was denied by a margin of 116 votes.

“While I am definitely excited, and very grateful to be elected,” Kritzer said, “I am also very disappointed that the referendum did not pass. We are going to have to make some tough budget decisions.”

The 10-year referendum would have in effect revoked two existing operating referendums that provide $304.53 per student, and instead provided $531.32 per student per year.

The two existing referendums are due to expire in 2010 and 2011.

The referendum would have brought $1.09 million in revenue into the district, effective the 2010-2011 fiscal year, costing owners of a $100,000 home a property tax increase of $84.

The proposed increase was in response to legislative funding freezes for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, and a poor outlook for future state funding.

“The referendum is the thing that most of us were the most concerned about. The results are very disappointing,” Lees said.

More than 90 percent of the schools in the state have operating levies. A total of 58 schools across the state voted on levies Tuesday.

The referendum could be brought to a vote again next year.

“The district is going to need that funding,” Simonson said.

“I am sure they will clearly demonstrate the need to voters next year, and the people will step up to help the district out. The students need it,” Simonson added.

There were 12,392 residents registered to vote before election day. There were 4,306 voters who cast ballots in the school board election, and 4,270 in the referendum.