Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts tagged as “voting”

Primaries start 2020 Election season

January 9, 2020

Early voting begins Feb. 18

NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY – Locally, many are anxious to vote in the 2020 November 3 election so their vote will solve the Presidential question.

March 3 Primary voting begins for early voters on February 18 and runs until Friday, February 28, according to the Texas Secretary of State. The last date to register to vote in primaries is February 3. March 3 being the last day to vote in person. Any run off is to be completed by May 26. Candidates must achieve 50% or more to avoid run off elections.

Few local candidates are unopposed this year. Dan Huberty R.,Texas House #127 after a highly successful year with House Bill 3 (school funding) and locally House Bill 76 is opposed by a Republican, Dwight Ford.

Briscoe Cain, R., Texas House #128 of Pearland, Highlands, Baytown and Crosby is challenged by Robert C. Hoskins formerly of Baytown City Council in the Republican Primary and Josh Markle and Mary E. Williams both Democrats.

District #128, a little research will show is comprised of about 172,221 folks that are 58.2% white, 38.7% black or Hispanic and 3.1% other. Ethnically, District #128 is 70.8 % non-Hispanic and 29.2% Hispanic.

Two local US Congressional elections are to be decided by voters. (more…)

Voter interest low in Election

November 7, 2019

HARRIS COUNTY – Very few voters bothered to go to the polls on Tuesday, election day. The lack of major issues or strong candidates kept the turnout down to about 10% of eligible voters.

Final vote counts were not available at press time, with only about 25% of the Precincts reporting. Based on that information, and Early Voting ballots, the results are as follows:

(more…)

Early Voting starts October 21

October 24, 2019

Constitutional Amendments, Newport Water Election

HARRIS COUNTY – Monday Oct. 21 is the first day of Early Voting in the General Election. East Harris County area residents will vote on 10 constitutional amendments, METRO’s MetroNext bond issue in some areas, Baytown councilmen, and Newport MUD bonds, . Early voting continues through November 1, and you may vote this year at any election location. The General Election is scheduled for November 5.

BAYTOWN COUNCIL

In Baytown, District 1 has Laura Alvarado vs. Mercedes Renteria III. District 2, Chris Presley is running unopposed. District 3, Charles Johnson is running unopposed.

NEWPORT MUD

In Crosby’s Newport subdivision, the MUD district is asking for voter approval of a $70 mil lion bond referendum, to be used for water, sewer, and drainage system improvements, and approval of an Ad Valorem tax in payment of the bonds.

METRO BOND ISSUE

Proposition A on the ballot would authorize a $3.5 billion bond issue, to be used for METRO street improvements, mobility projects, and other facilities. Funds for this work would come from the existing Sales Tax, and there would not be any additional taxes required. Projects included in this proposal are a new MetroRapid Bus System, more HOV lanes, and extension of the MetroRail system.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Texans will vote on 10 new Constitutional Amendments on November 5th. The issues addressed include a state income tax, creating a flood infrastructure fund, and funding for the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute of Texas. The League of Women Voters of Texas (LWVTX) conducts research on each amendment to provide fair and unbiased information to Texas voters.

(more…)

November election will vote on issues from last legislative session

August 29, 2019

TEXAS – Although it is news to most people there is an election this November 5 concerning the work of the last Legislature passed that must go to voters for approval.

Northeast Harris County will find that the Edith Faye Cook Cole Crosby Branch Library at 135 Hare Road in Crosby will begin hosting early voting on Oct. 21 through November 1. The Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Traditionally, this is the election for Mayoral candidates and this is no exception but Crosby, Huffman and Highlands have no dogs in that hunt, they are unincorporated.

There are however 10 ballot measures. (more…)

Pct. 3 Constable race finds Eagleton, Jones, Florus already registered

August 1, 2019

Ken Jones seeks old position

HARRIS COUNTY – By far the most contentious local, primary race in 2016 was the race for the Democratic candidate for Precinct 3 Constable. Now we find the incumbent Constable facing his old boss, and the wife of his last Republican opponent. While there is plenty of time for others to also run, these three have already selected a responsible financial treasurer to seek campaign finances for office.

The race will be held November 5, 2020. The official deadline for filing isn’t until Dec. 9 of 2019 for the Democratic Party. The Democratic party spokesperson indicates that they do not know who will run as yet and the Harris County Clerk of Court has no listing as to who might run.

As rumor would have it, eleven people are running for the office but no official record indicates this or whom those candidates might be.

Still with certainty, we can say that Harris County Precinct 3 Constable Sherman Eagleton is running, the former Constable Ken Jones is running, and Deborah Florus is running, and each has named an election treasurer. All three have long histories in law enforcement. Eagleton and Jones have held the office and Deborah Florus is a Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy and wife of Dan Webb, the last Republican Candidate for Precinct 3 Constable and formerly with the Department of Public Safety.

(more…)

Goose Creek CISD passes $335 M. bond

May 9, 2019

Only 1,795 voters, 181 more in favor than against, decided that taxpayers in Highlands and Baytown will float a bond for $335 Million dollars that will be implemented as the bonds are sold.

This Goose Creek Consolidated ISD bond was decided by residents in both Harris and Chambers Counties with 988 for it and 807 against. Early voting decided the issue, 690 to 523 in Harris. Absentee votes in Harris County were 21 for to 7. In Chambers County early voters favored the bond 102 to 80.

On election day, the bond would not have passed. Harris County voters were 114 in favor to 130 against. In Chambers County the vote went 61 for to 67 against on May 4.

A $100,000 valuation house could see about $116 more a year in school taxes as the rate could go to $1.547 from $1.432, the current rate. The rate increase is not to occur all at once but be phased in as the bonds are sold. (more…)

Local elections determine future

May 9, 2019

Crosby water board decided

Crosby Municiple Utility District held a Director’s Election on a “vote for three” ballot. Robert F. Fivecoat got 32 votes, William Wilkinson 35 votes, Velma Ellison 25 votes and Eddie Foster 38.

Wow, $10,000 for an election where less than 50 voted and nothing changed.

“Being the newest on the board, I very much appreciate the support of my neighbors and friends.” said Foster.

Crosby MUD could have had over 1,400 vote in the posted and published election that would decide decision makers for growth potential and attraction of new retail businesses to Crosby.

Woods Trustee for Highlands

Riding a wave of popularity that is partially charisma and partly heritage but mostly hard work, Jessica Woods was elected to the Board of Trustees of Goose Creek Consolidated ISD for a second term.

(more…)

Goose Creek plans $335 million bond vote

April 11, 2019
Goose Creek CISD superintendent Randall O’Brien speaking at Rotary

HIGHLANDS – Goose Creek school district is planning on a large $335 million bond issue to place before voters on election day, Saturday, May 4. School superintendent Randall O’Brien, and others on a planning committee, have been meeting with civic groups and citizens throughout the district to explain the need for this large sum of money, and how it would be used.

O’Brien spoke on Tuesday to the Highlands Rotary club, reviewing the history of the last bond issue in 2013, and the need for another one to keep up with the growth of the student population at present, and as projected into 2040. At that time, he said there would be another 6000 homes in the Baytown area, and those children must be accommodated properly.

As superintendent, O’Brien does not officially take a position on the passage of the bond referendum, but only explains the scope of the vote and answers questions about what it would accomplish, and how much it would cost the average taxpayer.

This is the second attempt at a bond issue to provide facilities and upgrades. Last year, a larger two part referendum was defeated, partially because it included about $50 million for a multi-purpose center that the taxpayers deemed not necessary. This year’s bond committee had 42 community leaders, and included some of last year’s critics. Their discussions refined the needs which would be included in the bond package.

The bond referendum includes money for five areas:

(more…)

Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman holds citizens advisory committee meeting

February 21, 2019
Diane Trautman, Harris
County’s newly elected
Clerk conducts her first of
seven Citizens Advisory
Committee Meeting. (Photo by Allan Jamail)

Wants Election Day Voting at any poll

By Allan Jamail

Houston, Tx. – January 23, 2019 – Diane Trautman Harris County’s newly elected Clerk held her first Election Advisory Committee (EAC) meeting. She hasn’t wasted time in full-filling her campaign pledges of having citizen involvement in her decisions and to make it more convenient for voters to cast their ballots.

To get broad based county-wide citizen involvement Trautman will have seven Election Advisory Committee (EAC) meetings. The meetings will educate and seek input from the minority languages of the county as required under the 1965 and 1975 Voting Rights Act (Section 203). Trautman will include meetings in Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. She’ll use these EAC meetings to unveil her Countywide Voting Centers Plan and or her Election Day Vote Center (EDVC) plan.

Another of Trautman’s major campaign pledges was to make it easier for voters to vote on Election Day. If her EDVC plan is approved by Harris County’s Commissioners Court, it would make it possible for anyone to vote on Election Day at an Election Day Vote Center (EDVC) at any of Harris County’s 700-plus polling locations. Currently, county residents have multiple options during early voting, but on Election Day, they can only cast a ballot in their home precinct.

(more…)

Crosby ISD cuts more staff; has 4 trustees on ballot

November 1, 2018

CROSBY – The new superintendent of this district, Scott Davis, continues to hunt for ways to solve the financial crisis the district found themselves in recently. After announcing an initial staff cut of 33, the number has now risen to 129, including 95 lay-offs and 34 retirements.

The district is currently trying to find several million dollars to balance their operating budget and reserve funds. These were tapped into when construction costs for new schools grew beyond estimates. As a result, the state has given the district the lowest financial rating.

Early voting, and the general election on November 6th, will seat 2 new school trustees, and see 2 more returning without opposition on the ballot.

Kasey Lewis and Sharon Eavon Fain will vie for Position 2 in the only contested position. The Atlarge Position is to continue with John Warren Swinney.

Position 1 will be retained by Tanya Eagleton.

Joseph R. Humphries is the only candidate that applied for Position 3, now held by John Lindsey for over 10 years. Humphries raised questions early concerning the last bond election and the financial disposition of the school district. Running unopposed, he will be taking over John Lindsey’s post at Position 3 in January. These new board members, and the remaining board, will be faced with helping Superintendent Davis bring financial stability back to the district.

After the last round of cuts, Superintendent Davis issued a statement, of which this is a part:

“We knew these days were coming, and yet, no amount of emotional preparation could have fully prepared us for the most difficult and necessary step of informing our beloved employees that they would no longer be working for Crosby ISD. … Any new vacancies from this point forward will be posted and any of our employees whose positions were dissolved may apply.

(more…)

Early Voting now thru November 2

October 25, 2018

HARRIS COUNTY – Voters can start to begin to cast their votes starting this Monday, October 22. This mid-term election is considered by most political observers to be an important statement about the current Republican control of the White House, Congress, and the Texas government.

Although the president is not on the ballot this time, many important seats in Congress and Texas will be decided. In addition, a number of local Harris County positions are on the ballot, and an important choice in the city of Houston regarding pay for firemen.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 6, but Early Voting will start on Monday, October 22 and continue through Friday, November 2. Hours that the polls are open are as follows:

Oct. 22-26 8 am – 4:30 pm

Oct. 27 7 am – 7 pm

Oct. 28 1 pm – 6 pm

Oct. 29-Nov 2 7 am – 7pm

The election for U. S. Senate has probably gained the most attention, both in Texas and nationally, Incumbent Senator Ted Cruz has seen a strong challenge from Democratic candidate Beto O’Rourke, who has raised much more money than Cruz in his campaign, and seems to have an enthusiastic grass roots support among the public. A visit last Monday by President Trump on behalf of Cruz is thought to boost his chances for re-election.

A number of U. S. Representatives seats are open for election, including District 2, formerly held by Ted Poe, who retired. Candidates in this district include Dan Crenshaw and Todd Litton; District 6, with incumbent Kevin Brady vs. Steven David; District 18 with incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee vs. Ava Reynero Pate; and District 29, where long term Representative Gene Green has retired, and State Senator Sylvia Garcia is running against Phillip Aronoff.

Governor Abbott is defending his seat against challenger Lupe Valdez, and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is running against challenger Mike Collier. Another state race that has gathered attention is Attorney General, where the beleaguered incumbent Ken Paxton is running against Democratic challenger Justin Nelson.

In state Senate races, in District 7 incumbent Paul Bettencourt vs. David Romero; and District 15, Randy Orr is challenging incumbent Democrat John Whitmire.

A number of State Representatives are running unopposed, and therefore will be re-elected. These include Brisco Cain in District 128; Armando Walle in District 140; Senfronia Thompson in 141; and Ana Hernandez in 143.

(more…)