The analysis below shows the candidates and their positions and past actions regarding incorporation. - Steve Lawrence, Growth in and around our community is one of the biggest challenges we will face in the next five years, and probably longer than that. He believes this experience relates him to parents in The Woodlands who deeply care about the future of their community they want they children to grow up in and inherit. Texas House passes bill to decriminalize marijuana, Family gets largest known jail-death settlement in Texas, Massive ranch up for sale near Texas next big state park, Texas man catches giant alligator snapping turtle, releases it, KPRC 2 Houston names new 4 p.m. anchor, adds traffic lead, 3,800-acre San Antonio-area property to become Texas state park, Ime Udoka, Rockets dropping hints on teams free agency plans, Conroe ISD schools secured as manhunt for gunman continues, FBI to direct 'large scale' nuclear training in Houston this week, Greg Abbott 'regrets' calling massacre victim 'illegal', Astros headed to Mexico City in 2024 for historic matchup, You can own your own cave system for a cool $875k, home included, Woodlands board appointee Nelson seeks to keep seat in Nov. 3 election, Dotson is first Black candidate for Woodlands Township board, Shared treasurer between PAC, Woodlands candidate draws criticism, Family gets largest known jail-death settlement in Texas: 'We wanted justice', Massive Coastal Bend ranch up for sale near Texas next big state park, Texas man catches massive alligator snapping turtle, then releases it back into the wild, KPRC 2 promotes Candace Burns to anchor, hires new traffic lead, Property north of San Antonio set to become a new Texas state park, Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets drop hints on teams free agency plans, Woodlands race sees Hannon top Rieser in financial support. The polling locations listed here are subject to change. He also said listing The Woodlands Student Center on campaign forms may mislead the public to believe Bell and his website which exclusively reports on local high schools supports Dotson. While many including Texas Patriots PAC support Proposition 1, it is not the Township boards position to tell residents of The Woodlands how to vote on amendments or any election. 1. Of Nelsons donations, three of them came from himself one $100 donation and two $250 donations. I have lived here for 30 years. An incorporated city of The Woodlands would take on the cost of paying for its own roads and police from the counties, all while continuing to pay the counties the same property tax rate as everyone else for fewer services. Regional Editor Jeff Forward works in The Woodlands newsroom and manages the twice-weekly The Woodlands Villager. According to mandatory election finance filings Nelson submitted on Oct. 2, he raised a total of $1,810 in political contributions between July 1 and Sept. 24. We can grow in a responsible way while maintaining everything that makes our community so special. Ten of the 11 candidates running for the three open seats on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in the Nov. 5 election took part Tuesday in an informational forum hosted by The. He believes these reserve funds can be used for functions for which The Woodlands residents already pay taxes to the county, such as road construction, the Lone Star Executive Airport customs facility, or the possibility of installing expensive, reckless and ultimately useless bike lanes on The Woodlands roads. View photos https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/1521/November-2022-Election, Build relationships with community stakeholders, Maintain and continue to fund public safety. Brad Bailey 2. What originally brought you to The Woodlands? - Steve Lawrence, Preserving our great community by restoring relationships and listening to residents to ensure we remain the No. Hello Woodlands does not accept or receive advertising or funding from any candidate, party, or group. Visit the Hello Woodlands 2022 Election Guide for The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Candidates to view all candidates, interviews, and voting information here. This is what November 8 means to Township voters. Four at-large positions on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will be elected in the November 2020 election, designated as positions 1, 2, 3 and 4. (This plan was realized when the May 2015 Montgomery County Road Bond included this extension, and was soundly defeated.) Each position is for a two year term. Linda Nelson is running for the Township Board Position 2. Also, my professional training as a lawyer helps me to mitigate risk and work toward consensus solutions. Examples of this include: A number of questions arise from this decision: If there is additional economic development as a result of this airport expense, it would inure to the county, the City of Conroe, and Black Forest Ventures the parent company of Galaxy FBO, who provides aeronautical services at the airport. Incumbent member of the board Mike Bass is running for reelection against challenger Brian Boniface. Is there a neighborhood watch program in The Woodlands? 2005-2023 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Kyle Watson. Why do you enjoy living (and working, if applicable) in The Woodlands? Three at-large positions on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will be elected in the November 2023 election, designated as positions 5, 6, and 7. We have a safe community thanks to our Sherriff and Constable departments, Alpha & Omega Mounted Police, Montgomery Countys EMS & Fire departments and excellent amenities for our families. Nelsons largest donation was $500, from fellow township Director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs. Please note that Hello Woodlands is anunbiased, nonpartisan news sourcethat does not endorse or support onlyone party or candidate. Bell said he makes websites for a wide range of businesses, organizations and other political candidates. They were some of the first residents in Grogan's Mill. Step 1: Texas must increase funding to traditional public schools. Prior to this, he served in the Texas Army National Guard as an infantry platoon leader of a heavy weapons unit and also as an Executive Officer, where he was responsible for maintaining, managing, and coordinating personnel and equipment. To stay number one, an expanded convention center and more full-service hotel rooms need to be a priority. The Woodlands was named a Monarch Champion by the National Wildlife Federation earlier this year for its commitment to the endangered butterflyThe Woodlands' founder George Mitchell in the 1970s had indicated 25% of land in The Woodlands should be off limits from development. The following are the candidates for four (4) at-large positions on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in the November 2022 election. Craig Rickard, Position #2:1. In fact, County Judge Craig Doyal, who then was the County Commissioner of Precinct 2 (located to the west of The Woodlands) had been quietly buying right-of-ways to extend The Woodlands Parkway to State Highway 249 in the western part of the county. Why do you enjoy living (and working, if applicable) in The Woodlands? What originally brought you to The Woodlands? With inflation and housing appraisals soaring, the task of maintaining the townships current lofty standards for amenities and services while maintaining resident approval (94% in the latest resident survey) without additional property taxes will be a significant challenge, but it is not insurmountable. 1 place in America to live, work and play. In 2014, the board discussed the content of a proposed Earth Day proclamation. Why did you (Steve Lawrence) advocate FOR incorporation in 2021, and what is your specific position now if there was a vote to put Incorporation back on the ballot in the next 2 years? We have an amazing master planned community thanks to the forethought of George Mitchell. 1:48 PM Oct 5, 2022 CDT. And the plans for Gosling are to eventually extend it to Conroe. Under election law, candidates are permitted to donate to their own campaigns as long as it is reported on filing papers. Fighting to make sure our local roads dont become major thoroughfares through our community. Applications delivered in person are accepted on regular business days during the Townships office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Which smacks of the crony capitalism we oppose on principle.) We need to intentionally attract sales and hotel taxes as well as adjust program fees to keep property taxes low. Steve Lawrence2. What are the two candidates views regarding big changes to the township structure in the near future? Along with giving back to the community and keeping The Woodlands a great place to live, Mr. Bass says a main reason for which he is running for office is that he enjoys problem solving. | Candidates. Harris County has established countywide polling sites. Updated 3:58 PM Apr 25, 2023 CDT. determine the ideal qualities for candidates; 2.3.5 Solicit candidates for the position through different channels, including . For this reason, he says that voters can count on his personal integrity and commitment to be a true representative of the people as reasons for which he is the best candidate in the race. To vote in The Woodlands Township election, you must be a registered voter in the county of your residence and a resident of The Woodlands Township. Our main points of contention are: Mr. Basss propensity to cater to the interests of the county government. His smallest donation was $10. Among his prominent donors were Conroe Independent School District board member Datren Williams, former CISD board member Gerald Irons; former township director Bruce Tough and former Harris-Montgomery Counties Municipal Utility District 386 board member Rich Jakovac. How have you served and/or how do you currently serve and contribute to our community? The deadline for candidates to file an application to appear on the ballot is 5 p.m. Aug. 22, and the deadline to file a declaration of write-in candidacy is Aug. 26, according to the township. Ensure the Township Board prioritizes fiscal responsibility. By Vanessa Holt 2016 The Woodlands in Focus: All Rights Reserved. The three closest polling sites in proximity to The Woodlands Township are listed here; however, the full list of more than 700 polling sites can be found atwww.HarrisVotes.org. Of those, 30 were from donors who did not live in The Woodlands including nine from other states. THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP - BOARD OF DIRECTORS Texas Patriots PAC recommends the following candidates for The Woodlands Township Board of Directors: Position 1 - Craig Rickard Position 2 - Jason J. Nelson* Position 3 - John Anthony Brown* Position 4 - Steve Lawrence *Incumbent Commentary This means that on top of being taxed by the county, residents of The Woodlands also pay taxes to The Woodlands Township so that the . Share your background. It also helps that I have lived in this community for more than 22 years and I understand the expectations of the people who choose to live in The Woodlands. Dan Hannon, Dotson spent a total of $4,671.31 at Magnolia-based marketing and printing firm adWhite. Like another candidate supported by the TownshipFuture PAC, The Rev. Each office carries a two-year term, and all four positions are elected at large by voters in The Woodlands Township in both Montgomery and Harris County. He also received three donations from two groups, the TownshipFuture PAC and the Texas Association of Realtors in Austin. Politicians who have no interest in preserving the quality of life of The Woodlands are planning changes which will turn a number of our key roads into transit corridors and essentially dissect our community into sections by attracting significant transient traffic. While working in Iowa and California, Forward was honored with awards for breaking news reporting, breaking news photography and special sections on education and the Hmong people. While some of these road improvements are necessary (expanding Kuyendahl to ease traffic in Creekside, for instance), growth has to be responsible, maintain the essence of the community, and have a Woodlands-centric mindset as opposed to using Woodlands roads as through traffic for other communities. Each position is for a two year term. - Kyle Watson, With residential build-out nearly complete, the next chapter will be the selective redevelopment in older neighborhoods and continued investment in amenities and attractions that will entice conferences, visitors and events to choose The Woodlands. They will not seek to drastically alter The Woodlands' governance structure with an incorporation that is guaranteed to increase property taxes in The Woodlands in exchange for no substantial benefits for our local community. Two candidates, Thomas Chumbley and Luis Louis Granados, did not file any campaign finance reports with the township. It is time to elect civic-minded leaders who will listen to the community while removing incumbents and other candidates who have followed along with the Incorporation Squad and its misguided agenda. 1. Granados, who was removed from the ballot in 2018 after leaving information off his filing papers, lost to Position 6 incumbent Ann Snyder in 2019 election. Candidates are listed per the determined ballot order. Personal: Married for 43 years, raised 3 children in The Woodlands, and enjoy more than anything else my 6 grandchildren all under four years old. According to campaign filings made by two candidates and information provided by The Woodlands Township in response to public records requests, Dotson far exceeded his three opponents in both donations pulling in more than $16,000 compared to less than $2,000 received by the three other candidates combined. This produces a slippery slope that would empower the board to promote agendas. What originally brought you to The Woodlands? How do I start trash service or report a missed pick-up? In fact, he even uses the countys argument against The Woodlands, saying that since District 2 and District 6 combined totals 30 deputies, that is enough coverage. Brad Bailey2. These same skills are also important in making sound, well-reasoned decisions that will impact our community. Houston-area water leaders discussed subsidence, or ground sinkage due to groundwater pumping, in Montgomery County as well as policy relating to subsidence at a July 20 forum. It should also be noted that the reserve fund The Woodlands should be preparing the most, the reserve fund to prepare for incorporation, Mr. Bass voted to eliminate. For the most up-to-date list of locations, please check the Montgomery County Elections website (www.MontgomeryVotes.org) if you are registered to vote in Montgomery County or the Harris County Elections website (www.HarrisVotes.org) if you are a Village of Creekside Park resident, registered to vote in Harris County. Our township system is extremely unique and allows us to keep taxes low while also staying focused on important priorities like public safety. Each position has a two-year term, is anunpaid volunteer position, and is elected at-large by voters in The Woodlands Township in both Montgomery County and Harris County. *The Texas Secretary of State is the chief election officer of the State of Texas and provides the dates set forth herein. Mr. Bass then insisted that in doing this, the board would be caving into these ultraconservative groups, and that the word sustainable had been hijacked by the Tea Party. After the motion passed, with Messrs. Bass and Tough voting against it, Mr. Bass refused to let the issue go. But the cost of any benefit to this model is that the communitys residents are now faced with increased traffic at the primary points of entry to The Woodlands off the I-45 corridor and parking and crowding problems in the Town Center itself. Four at-large positions on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will be elected in the November 2022 election, designated as positions 1, 2, 3, and 4. Mr. Bass supported the continuation of a contract with an incumbent legal firm that charges $550 per hour, which is almost 300 percent higher than the second placed bidder, whom the Township also uses, which offered $190 per hour. Many residents feel they are losing the small hometown atmosphere that attracted them to The Woodlands and increasingly feel alienated from the Town Center. Officials said Dotson's long record of. Ballot positions for candidates who have filed are as follows: Position #1: 1. Please click on each of the candidates names to view responses to our seven (7) question interview,if provided. - Kyle Watson Summary Wrap up/Woody's Thoughts The Woodlands Township 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. He prides himself on approaching every issue as a problem to be dealt with in a dispassionate, objective manner and achieve meaningful lasting results.. Aug. 13, 2020 Updated: Aug. 17, 2020 10:55 a.m. 6. Would you like to share any other words or message to The Woodlands community? EDIT: 10/8/22 - It has come to my attention the analysis on this point needs to be revisited as many inquiring minds are skeptical in regards to the posturing taken by Mr. Lawrence and other candidates when it comes to the topic of Incorporating The Woodlands as a city. -, As a successful aircraft commander and commercial pilot, attention to detail, analytical skills and leadership were vital attributes. -, Preserving our great community by restoring relationships and listening to residents to ensure we remain the No. He received less than $2,000 in donations, a large portion of which came from himself or family members. He is the first Black candidate in the history . But there is a very valid reason District 6 was created as a separate district from District 2, and District 6 needs to be treated as such. (Courtesy Cross Creek Ranch) Here are the two candidates . thewoodlandstownshipoversight.substack.com, This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Work: Just celebrated working 25 years at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center; the 2nd largest employer in Montgomery County next to CISD. Curiously enough. Use of this site is governed by our, The Woodlands Township Elections November 2022, says another incorporation vote "needs to happen. THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS - 2022 CANDIDATE Steve Lawrence is running for the Township Board Position 4. I have contacted legislators to increase funding. The townships current model has led to The Woodlands being one of the most desirable places to live and work in the entire country. The county has already given $1.2 million to the project, of which 38 percent has come from county taxes paid by residents of The Woodlands. I am a Jersey Girl but became a Texan when my husband was transferred to Houston over 42 years ago. While the Township Board might not have direct control over certain issues including roads and water, developing and maintaining positive relationships with Montgomery and surrounding counties will allow us to have influence into decisions that affect us. Montgomery County is utilizing the following precincts in The Woodlands Township for the November 2022 election, as indicated below. Lamar CISD candidates talk about the district's rapid growth with the board election coming May 6, 2023. THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS - 2022 CANDIDATE Kyle Watson is running for the Township Board Position 4. Mr. Bass believes that the tax revenues from Town Center will subsidize the taxes for residents of The Woodlands. My wife Kim is from The Woodlands. He should have listed paying me (not the website). Low debt and strong reserves for known capital expenditures have resulted in a AA2 bond rating, the highest rating of any special purpose district in Texas. But even without this, The Woodlands would begin to look less like The Woodlands and more like Kingwood or Champion Forest. THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS CANDIDATE ANALYSIS, BRAD BAILEY -MEETS CRITERIAAGAINST INCORPORATIONCampaigned against incorporation and higher taxes in 2021, Craig Rickard -Doesn't meet criteriaFOR INCORPORATION but evasive on the topicCalled himself and The Woodlands voters misinformed and lazy for voting against incorporation, proposed revisiting incorporation with better messaging and marketing to SELL it to voters, says another incorporation vote "needs to happen.". What makes The Woodlands unique is that it is a peaceful, secluded enclave. Early Voting Locations in The Woodlands area: To view your assignedpoll for early voting and election day onNovember 8, 2022: The State of Texas requires all voters to present an approved form ofphoto identificationat the polls. The townships current model has led to The Woodlands being one of the most desirable places to live and work in the entire country. He received six donations of $100 each and three donations of $250 each. Learn more athttps://www.votetexas.gov/voting/need-id.html. Mr. Boniface states that his three main reasons for running for office are: Like many residents of The Woodlands, Mr. Boniface and his wife are parents to young children. 2 Candidates: Mike Bass . If The Woodlands received the same coverage as the rest of the county, there would be about 36 deputies allotted to District 6. 5. What originally brought you to The Woodlands? Chumbley did not report any donations nor any expenditures according to township officials. Save on AeroGarden indoor herb growing kits at Amazon, Dyson's air purifying headphones have finally arrived, Preorder 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' today, Astros vs Phillies: How to get tickets and free swag this weekend, There are a ton of great patio furniture sets on sale right now, Heat and humidity head to Houston as summer approaches, Why this scenic train ride is considered one of Colorado's best. * The Texas Secretary of State is the chief election officer of the State of Texas and provides the dates set forth herein. Indeed, Mr. Bass is always studious and well-prepared, carrying files and ready to cite data and figures at Township meetings. 2. This will allow the board to continue to minimize the amount of property tax revenue needed to support the township budget. We do not accept or receive advertising or funding from any candidate, party or group. He wants the board to overstep its bounds. A total of 31 of Dotsons 69 donations in the period reported were made from donors who did not reside in The Woodlands, including 22 donations from residents of other cities in Texas such as Sugar Land, Plano, Houston and Austin. These candidates, like the majority of The Woodlands voters, appreciate and understand the unique value and benefits that our special purpose tax district Township model provides The Woodlands. As for campaign expenditures, Dotson reported spending $11,800.58 on campaign materials as well as loaning himself $621.24. Resident of The Woodlands Township for past six (6) months, Resident of Texas for past twelve (12) months. Share your background. Incorporation Squad leaders Gordy Bunch and Bruce Rieser are stepping down from their positions at the end of this term after incorporation was put to a vote and got a thumping in the 2021 elections. The only project he indicated he did not support was an expansion of Grogans Mill Road. Dotson received two separate $1,000 donations from the newly formed TownshipFuture PAC as well as donations of $500 from the PACs treasurer, Walter Cooke, and PAC co-founder Rob Johnson, who donated $96.80. But the number would still be closer to 36 than 6.The Woodlands Township currently contracts with MCSO to provide additional deputies to give The Woodlands a total coverage of about 86 deputies. No strong opinions at this time. Our township system is extremely unique and allows us to keep taxes low while also staying focused on important priorities like public safety. I certainly would continue the Boards policy to start their yearly budgeting at the no-new-revenue tax rate. 7. These candidates are running against a slate of candidates who are endorsed by the pro-incorporation county tea parties with special interests. The deadline for filing a declaration of a write-in candidacy is 5 p.m. on August 25, 2023. Updated All eight candidates have concise parallel answers for the same 3 issues. It is not known if they have spent any money or accepted donations. Interested persons are encouraged to visit the Secretary of State's Election Division website athttp://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/index.shtmlor contact the Secretary of State's Election Division by telephone at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) to obtain the most current information. The Woodlands was previously a part of MCSO District 2, which includes all of South Montgomery County, but as The Woodlands grew in population, it became necessary to create an entirely new district District 6. 7:05 PM Oct 5, 2020 CDT, Learn more about the candidates running for The Woodlands Township board of directors Position 2. An analysis of the initial round of campaign finance filings turned into township officials by an Oct. 5 deadline in the Position 2 seat race in The Woodlands shows a large chasm in donations and spending between one candidate Jimmie Dotson and three other hopefuls. We need to intentionally attract sales and hotel taxes as well as adjust program fees to keep property taxes low. For more information on local voting in the 2022 election, visitelections.mctx.org (Montgomery County) or harrisvotes.com (Harris County).
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