The inaugural election of a school board member for southwest Minneapolis was thrown into an August primary that may draw up to four candidates after the area's DFL delegates deadlocked Saturday on an endorsement.

The convention at Edison High School did manage to endorse city employee Darrell Washington on the third ballot for a seat in a downtown-Isles district. But that's not conclusive, because losing contender Josh Reimnitz pledged to run in the primary.

Delegates also endorsed unopposed Kim Ellison, appointed to the board in December, for a North Side seat, while also backing Carla Bates for a second term in a citywide seat. Both were unopposed.

In the southwest seat, educator Tracine Asberry held a consistent lead over lawyer Alex Phung, but peaked on the third ballot as both lost support to delegates seeking to block an endorsement. The convention adjourned after five ballots when neither hit the required 60 percent support.

Asberry said she's running, and Phung will strongly consider it. Two candidates forced to drop out under convention rules after the second ballot, financial analyst David Weingartner and coach-dogwalker Curtis Johnson, also say they'll consider candidacies. Weingartner's urging of his delegates to support no endorsement was critical in the deadlock.

Candidates will have to decide quickly. Filing for school board posts opens Tuesday and closes June 5. The primary is Aug. 14.

Phung and Asberry both have drawn support from political heavy hitters. He's backed by labor unions, although they may be less influential in the southwest district, and by several elected officials. She has the backing of the DFL's gender issue-oriented Stonewall Caucus, the feminist campaign group Women Winning and close to a dozen elected officials, including Mayor R.T. Rybak.

Washington, a project manager for the city's development agency, lives in the Whittier neighborhood. Reimnitz once taught in Atlanta schools and now helps run a nonprofit youth group. He lives in Elliot Park.

Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438