Early Voting Started Monday For City Councils, School Boards, Bond Issue

Early Voting Started Monday For City Councils, School Boards, Bond Issue
by Bob Dunn, Apr 30, 2007, 06 53 am

Early voting for the May 12 elections started Monday in Fort Bend County, where a constitutional amendment, $156 million mobility bond and several city council and school board seats are at stake.

Anyone eligible to vote in the election is eligible to vote early. Locations around the county open Monday morning. Check at the Fort Bend County Elections web site for schedules and locations. Voters may check here to find their voting precinct and a sample ballot.

Citizens have the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment, Proposition 1, that would give senior citizens and disabled people the same property tax reductions that other Texas property owners received a year ago. Wording in the proposition is somewhat confusing, but voting “yes” for the measure means voting in favor of reducing the property tax rate for seniors and the disabled.

The only other county-wide issue on the ballot is a mobility bond election over the issuance of $156 million in general obligation bonds for roads and bridges throughout the county. A complete listing of the infrastructure project that would be funded through the bond issue, if passed, is available here.

Voters living within the Fort Bend Independent School District can vote on a board of trustees race that pits incumbent Lisa Rickert against Bob Broxson for Position 3, and incumbent Ken Bryant against Ann Hopkins, Noel Pinnock and David Reitz for Position 7. Daniel Mendendez’s name also appears on on the ballot, however, he withdrew from the race and is no longer a candidate.

Some voters within Lamar Consolidated School District will be able to vote for either board Single-member District 4 incumbent Julie Thompson or challenger Larry Meeks; or Single-member District 5 incumbent Jack Christiana or challenger Betty Lasker; or Single-member District 7 challengers Gary Gates or Richard McCarter.

Residents within Needville ISD have two uncontested board candidates on the ballot, and a $60 million bond issue, the money from which would be used for new school buildings, school sites and buses, if it passes.

Municipal elections are being held for Fort Bend County residents of the following cities:

In Arcola, three council seats are up for grabs in a five-way race between Rosie Rojas, Lizzie Pitts, Tom Hilton, James DeVoge and Greg Abarr.

In Fulshear, three candidates – Bill Archer, Larry Beustring and J. B. Collins Jr. – are vying for two alderman positions. Fulshear voters also will decide on two city propositions. Proposition A, if approved, would create a .5% sales and use tax, to be administered by the city’s 4b corporation, that would be used to promote new and expanded businesses, promote tourism, develop parks and make infrastructure improvements. Proposition B also calls for adopting a .5% sales and use tax, earmarked for new and expanded businesses.

Houston: Voters will chose from among 11 candidates to fill congressional candidate Shelley Sekula-Gibbs’ unexpired term in City Council At-large District 3. The candidates are: Sara Owen-Gemoets, Melissa Noriega, Tom Nixon, Andy Neill, Roy Morales, Alfred Molison, Ivan Mayers, David Goldberg, Noel Freeman, Anthony Dutrow and Kendall Baker.

Missouri City: District A City Council incumbent Eunice Reiter faces Rodney Griffin; District B incumbent Don Smith faces Louis Hunter and Cynthia Lenton-Gary; and Barbara Gibson and Kevin Tunstall are challenging for District C.

Needville Mayor Delbert Wendt is up for election but running unopposed. Incumbent aldermen Harriet Karnei and Clarence Lamensky face challengers Mike Simpson and Mark Meyer for two council seats.

Orchard: Residents may vote on a proposition to reauthorize a .25% sales and use tax for road maintenance and repair.

Pleak: Several alderman positions are open, however, each candidate running is guaranteed a slot. Also on the ballot is a proposition to increase the sales tax rate from 7.75% to 8%, for street repair and maintenance.

Rosenberg: Mayor Joe Gurecky faces a challenge from former City Council member Fran Naylor; District 2 incumbent Joe Segura faces challenger Karen Mendoza; District 3 incumbent Dwayne Grigar faces challenger Cowboy Bill; and District 4 incumbent Tom Suter faces challenger Charlie Nays.

Simonton: Peggy Wright, Tom Walker and Tom Carroll all are on the ballot for city council, and are guaranteed to make it as three positions are open. Also, voters will decide the fate of a proposition to reauthorize a .25% sales and use tax for road maintenance and repair.