Crosby’s elections controversial

The most exciting election of this century began on Tuesday, all voting terminates November 3, which means that in addition to the national and state elections there is a full line of local elections to know about before voting.

To avoid long lines during COVID-19, early voting requires a mask and an approved photo identification. Early voting began October 13 through 17 from 7 to 7 . Locations will also be open Sunday, October 18: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., October 19-24: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, October 25: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., October 26: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., October 27-29: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. October 27-29: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., October 30: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Early voting can be done, no matter where you live, at all early voting locations. Locations have undergone some changes. Locations include San Jacinto Community Center – Meeting Room, 604 Highland Woods Drive, Highlands, TX 77562-4546 and Coady Baptist Church – Fellowship Hall, 5606 Wade Road, Baytown, TX 77521-9744. Crosby is not voting inside the Edith Faye Cook Cole Harris County Crosby Branch Library as usual but instead, behind the Crosby Post Office, Crosby Community Center – Large Assembly Room, 409 Hare Road, Crosby, TX 77532 an alternative for folks in Huffman is Lake Houston Church of Christ – Fellowship Hall, 8003 Farmingham Road, Humble, TX 77346-2249.

Anyone around Channelview might use Martin Flukinger Community Center – Large Assembly Room, 16003 Lorenzo Street, Channelview, TX 77530. A bit farther North and West is North Channel Branch Library – Meeting Room, 15741 Wallisville Road, Houston, TX 77049 and more North is C E King Middle School, 8530 C E King Parkway, Houston, TX 77044.

On Thursday, October 29, seven polling locations will be open for over 24 hours in Harris County, and from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. October 30. You can vote over the 36-hour period at East Harris County Activity Center, Tracy Gee Community Center, Juergen’s Hall Community Center, Victory Gardens, NRG Arena, Kashmere Gardens Multi-Service Center, McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons.

The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot is October 23. This is the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot, and fear of catching COVID-19 isn’t good enough to qualify thanks to the Governor enforcing his interpretation of Texas Law. Some physical condition that incapacitates otherwise is required.

There are many races that might have been different if Straight Party voting had remained. Many that remember the Precinct 3 Constable run-off race might have hoped it was concluded. Andre Hines, a former METRO Police Officer, is the Republican hoping to replace native incumbent Sherman Eagleton running on the Democratic ticket.

Crosby ISD is hosting a Board of Trustees election. The board is comprised of 6 single-member district trustees and 1 at-large trustee. A total of 7 trustees represent the school district and each trustee serves 4-year terms. Elections are conducted Biennially on the November uniform election date, this time only Position 5 (Barrett Station behind the Main Street houses running East to Garth Road) has opposition. Firefighter and owner of Island Tanz, David Givens is opposed by Heather Barrett of Drew Elementary and Sharon Mayes. New to the board for Position 4 will be Christina Castillo who was not opposed. Position 4 is West and South of Newport including Jackson Bayou all the way to Lake Houston, Newport having been designated Position 2. Jennifer Roach, Principal of Crosby Kindergarten Center returns to take Position 7 that begins on the South side of Indian Shores Road and encompasses Lake Shadows runs South to North Diamondhead Boulevard and Hare-Cook Roads.

Harris County Emergency Services District No. 80 for the first time in decades is having a race for commissioners that oversee taxes for Crosby Volunteer Fire Department. In general, this election is leaving the option to vote for none, one, two, or three of the listed candidates. Candidates are Raymond St. Julian, Sr. NP, Christopher Lewis NP, Chuck Murray NP, Kevin W. Pipes NP and Derek E. Elkins NP.

Unopposed as Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Place 1, is Joe Stephens.

Newport residents have a Proposition A Bond to vote on, spelled out on the ballot: “THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS IN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FIFTY-TWO MILLION NINE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND ($52,960,000) DOLLARS, FOR WATER, SEWER AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AND THE LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON SAID BONDS”

FOR

AGAINST.

According to Newport Municipal Utility District Director, Margarette Chasteen, “The Vote on bond authorization on the Nov. 3 ballot will be FOR or AGAINST. Proposition A will be the LAST vote on the LAST page of your ballot. FOR meaning you approve the $52,960,000. in the form of bonds paid out over a 20 to 30 year span. AGAINST means the $52,960,000. will be paid through water bills in a 5 year period.”

Other residents having examined this say that this bond isn’t as high as it would have been by far before negotiations and although it seems high there are a lot of projects that have to be done to the water system, it is much less expensive than the alternative.