Get Missouri City, Texas Election Information

Full Election Results For FBISD, Missouri City & Arcola--follow the link below (Owen loses another city council seat to reform candidates)

2009-05-09T20:52:00.001-07:00

http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/upload/images/elections_administration/election_results/er090509_01.pdf

EXTRA: Vendor candidates win in local school district races after strong showing, but another Missouri City council seat falls to reform candidates. In Arcola, Tom Hilton is returned for another term!

Also see: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/05/09/37759

GET OUT THE VOTE FOR CITY AND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS THIS SATURDAY!

2009-05-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

POLLING STATIONS LISTED:

http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/getSitePage.asp?sitePage=5660

PLEASE support these local candidates:

Rodney Griffin (District A Missouri City, TX)

Robin Elackatt (District C Missouri City, TX)

Carlos Cain for FBISD school board

Bruce Albright for FBISD school board

In Arcola city elections, please support anti-airport expansionist DeVoge, Hilton and Wark.

EARLY VOTING TURNOUT IS LOW SO FAR--GET TO THE POLLS!

2009-05-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

See this early voting commentary from a local popular blog:

http://halfempth.blogspot.com/2009/05/halfway-through-fbisd-trustee-early.html

http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/upload/images/elections_administration/evpa.PDF -county results

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TODAY!

2009-05-01T04:30:00.000-07:00

EARLY VOTING SITES--

• Early voting at Garcia Middle School, 18550 Old Richmond Road in Sugar Land; Missouri City Community Center, 1522 Texas Parkway in Missouri City; and Hightower High School, 3333 Hurricane Lane in Missouri City will be:
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through May 2; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 4-5.

• Early voting at First Colony Conference Center, 3232 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land, will be:
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through May 1; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 2; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 4-5.

• Early voting at Lost Creek Park, 3707 Lost Creek Blvd.; and Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. N. will be:
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through May 2; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May4-5.

• Early voting at Fort Bend Independent School District Administration Building, 16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land; Meadows Place City Hall, One Troyan Drive in Meadows Place; Willowridge High School, 16301 Chimney Rock in Houston; and Sugar Land Branch Library, 550 Eldridge in Sugar Land, will be:
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through May 1; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 4-5.

GET UPDATES here!

http://www.carloscain.com/

http://www.brucealbright.com/

http://griffinforcouncil.blogspot.com/

http://robinelackatt.com/

FBW Exclusive: Hohnbaum Joins Smelley In Efforts To Disrupt Local Election Forums!

2009-04-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

Staff report

They say politics can get dirty, but school politics get personal. This quaint saying seemed to come true last night at the FCCSA public forums in the school board races here at St. Laurence Church in Sugar Land. A few years ago these forums were altered to be small group meeting with rotations between tables. Attendance has fallen off accordingly. Well this year, it appeared to this reporter, that something new was added to the mix.

While standing near two of the candidates tables I noticed a particular nasty exchange going on between one audience member and one of the candidates. After taking a second look someone else in the audience pointed her out to me as one of the school board members Susan Hohnbaum accompanied by a friend who appeared to join in on the heckling. This is the second public forum that two board members have attempted to disrupt in this manner. The first was at the retired educators forum last week where current school trustee vice president Steve Smelley had unsuccessfully attempted to rattle the candidates. Many in the audience where unaware that these "hecklers" are seated board members. Is this anything new to politics? Possibly not, but certainly new to FBISD politics where in the past most exchanges have been polite disagreements and very collegial.

During one of these exchanges it was made public that the BOT had recently "rubber stamped" the firing of a former teacher at one of their middle schools. This information apparently shook up Ms. Hohnbaum who claimed the information was not for public disclosure. The case was followed last year in FortBendNow and the Chronicle very closely and created a great deal of public outcry to reinstate this educator. According to reports, the board was following the lead of the senior district administration. Bruce Albright, one of the candidates running for the school board, stated he had the court documents to support that the BOT vote already took place against the advice of the state education commissioner. After confronting Hohnbaum with the information, she became visibly silent. Not long after that Mr. Smelley left the building.

Early voting continues through May 5th with election day May 9th.

Sources: http://mcelectioninformation.blogspot.com

http://www.fortbendweb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1139&Itemid=101#jreactions

EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY (COUNCIL & SCHOOL BOARD RACES)--CLICK BELOW FOR MORE

2009-04-27T04:56:00.001-07:00

http://mcelectioninformation.blogspot.com/2009/04/early-voting-information.html

More Higher Taxes On The Way For FBISD Via The "Global Taj Mahal"?

2009-04-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

Staff report

Recently, in an interview reported in the Fort Bend Independent, the current FBISD BOT president continued the mythical claim that private monies will cover the entire costs of what has become known as the "Global Taj Mahal". Estimates have been cited from $30 million to as high as $100 million dollars, but at NO time has the district administration, nor the vendor, PBK (being investigated by the FBI), produced a list of guaranteed donors and rarely are these projects ever paid for in full via private donations. The board president also claims NO taxpayer funding will be needed (at least 3 days before early voting is slated to begin). Many local media sources have helped in spinning that information after first opposing the proposed excessive spending project, but the likely-hood that NO public tax dollars from the operations budget or bonds will be used is, in our opinion, a pre-election myth. Further we have found little proof that many of the districts claims regarding this "white elephant" can be supported. Not only will this proposal take bond money, which impacts the "debt service" portion of the operations budget (that directly impacts your property taxes) it will more than likely be coming from the "fund balance" (really a bond surplus account which the district doesn't like to discuss). Further, once the massive building project comes online, it will compete directly with other resources, materials and salaries on the "operations budget" for years to come (yes, this is a building project that will impact your taxes with no empirical support as to raising test scores or other outcomes)!

Click this link for more on the "official" spin coming from the district administration and the supporting vendors:

http://fbindependent.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=Default&mad=&sdetail=1475&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2531&hn=fbindependent&he=.com

-We will update this as needed!

Source: http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com/2009/04/more-higher-taxes-on-way-for-fbisd-via.html

Also see http://mcelectioninformation.blogspot.com for more on the early voting times for elections starting Monday.

Early Voting Information (Begins Monday)-

2009-04-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

EARLY VOTING SITES FOR MISSOURI CITY

• Early voting at Garcia Middle School, 18550 Old Richmond Road in Sugar Land; Missouri City Community Center, 1522 Texas Parkway in Missouri City; and Hightower High School, 3333 Hurricane Lane in Missouri City will be:
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through May 2; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 4-5.

• Early voting at First Colony Conference Center, 3232 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land, will be:
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through May 1; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 2; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 4-5.

• Early voting at Lost Creek Park, 3707 Lost Creek Blvd.; and Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. N. will be:
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through May 2; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May4-5.

• Early voting at Fort Bend Independent School District Administration Building, 16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land; Meadows Place City Hall, One Troyan Drive in Meadows Place; Willowridge High School, 16301 Chimney Rock in Houston; and Sugar Land Branch Library, 550 Eldridge in Sugar Land, will be:
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through May 1; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 4-5.

Griffin Address Important Council Issues--EARLY VOTING STARTS THIS MONDAY APRIL 27TH!

2009-04-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

From the desk of Rodney Griffin
Candidate for Missouri City Council District A

I believe having a Math degree from UT@Austin, working at a senior level in a council manager form of government before, and running my own business for years makes me uniquely qualified to serve Missouri City and district A. I understand the importance of balanced budgets, measured growth and keeping our community moving in the right direction, having lived here for almost 30 years. We haven't always witnessed the best decisions by some of our current city leadership and I vow to keep a close eye on expenditures and needless waste.

Since helping lead the Texas Parkway revitalization effort several years ago with Councilwoman Cynthia Lenton - Gary and many others, I've remained steadfast in my commitment to revitalization of this area because it is crucial to the district I will represent and the city on the whole. Our property values are very much impacted if the deterioration of the corridor is allowed to continue while certain development companies are favored with special zones and abatements out on highway 6. During the last election, my opponent accepted campaign contributions from many Houston development companies with projects out on hwy 6. Not one of these companies had projects in district A. Why was she accepting such gifts and then voting on their projects? Why is she now endorsing my opponent and making large contributions to his campaign?

Like the United States, Missouri City is a multi-ethnic and multi - cultural city . Matter of fact sixty percent citizens of color reside here. Ethnic and cultural diversity is a socio-political reality in twenty -first century America, or one would think. Having a city work force that looks like all the citizens should not be a novel idea. Consider this: a high ranking Missouri City offficial asked me recently "Why is it important ?" His confusion about diversity's importance is unfortunately the mindset of too many local officials who make important decisions daily about our lives. Too many cannot see the connection between diverse staffing and quality service. Little wonder mentalities that do not deem ethnic and cultural diverity issues as important leave communities of color blighted as they are. Small wonder there are currently no African American firefighters in Missouri City. "All politics is local. " High ranking local officials determine who is protected and served, even who protects and serves. They determine the quality of our drinking water, or if there is drinking water.They determine who repairs sidewalks, or if there are sidewalks. They determine whose property values go up and whose property values are dumped. Unlike the canary in the coal mine who first consumes the poisonous gas, we must step it up before it is too late for us too.

FBSun: Elackatt Picks Up Endorsement By Former Council Member Bob Burton!

2009-04-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/04/22/fort_bend_sun/news/sws_-_elackatt_endorsement_422.txt

Elackatt picks up endorsement

By DIANE TEZENO
Updated: 04.22.09
Robin Elackatt, a candidate for District C in Missouri City, has picked up an endorsement in his campaign to unseat incumbent Missouri City councilwoman Barbara Gibson.

Elackatt, a Colony Lakes resident and president of the Colony Lakes homeowners’ association, recently received the endorsement of former Missouri City District C candidate Bob Burton, who held the seat prior to Gibson’s election.

The endorsement was announced in an official press release issued by the campaign on April 22. . .(follow the link above for the full story)

Just In From FortBendWeb: Quail Valley Board & City Council C Incumbent May Have Violated State & Federal Laws!

2009-04-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

Homeowners very concerned about the direction their HOA has been taking over the last few years in local elections contacted an area tax watch group with potential infractions of the non-profit status of their association and possible state election law violations.

Because HOA's now have unprecedented powers allowed by the legislature through an ever expanding lobby of developers (ULI), management companies (CAI) and legal vendors (TCREA), armed with a Texas Supreme Ct. ruling dating back to 1987 (Inwood vs. Harris), these Quail Valley residents urged confidentiality in reporting these infractions because they feared retaliation.

One tax watch advocate was quoted as saying that, "according to the Internal Revenue Service and the Texas Ethics Commission rules, it is illegal for non-profit corporations to actively campaign or solicit funds for individual candidates or parties. Under the Texas Election Code, section 253.093, subsection d it is a infraction of state laws. We confirmed this by calling TEC legal consultant Robert Manus."

Residents of the Quail Valley subdivision contacted the tax watch group after a campaign release appeared in their HOA newsletter, the ValleyViewNews, on Thursday, April 9th and again on Monday, April 13th soliciting financial support for the Missouri City district C incumbent Barbara Gibson. . . (get the full release below)

Source: http://www.fortbendweb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1135&Itemid=90#jreactions

FROM GRIFFIN CAMPAIGN: THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE

2009-04-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

Like the United States, Missouri City is a multi-ethnic and multi - cultural society. As a matter of fact sixty percent citizens of color reside here. Ethnic and cultural diversity is a socio-political reality in twenty-first century America, or one would think. Having a city work force that looks like all the citizens should not be a novel idea.

Consider this: a high ranking Missouri City offficial asked me recently "Why is it important ?" His confusion about diversities importance is unfortunately the mindset of too many local officials who make important decisions daily about our lives. Too many cannot see the connection between diverse staffing and quality service. Little wonder mentalities that do not deem ethnic and cultural diverity issues as important leave communities of color blighted as they are. Small wonder there are currently no African American firefighters in Missouri City.

"All politics is local. " High ranking local officials determine who is protected and served, even who protects and serves. They determine the quality of our drinking water, or if there is clean drinking water. They determine who repairs side walks, or if there are sidewalks. They determine whose property values go up and whose property values are dumped. Unlike the canary in the coal mine who first consumes the poisonous gas, we must step it up before it is too late for us too.

Rodney Griffin
Government Initiatives for Missouri City Councilmember Cynthia Lenton - Gary District B
Candidate for Missouri City Council District A

Audience Heckler At Public Forum Turns Out To Be School Board Vice President!

2009-04-09T15:21:00.000-07:00

Just in: Steve Smelly, vacating board member and current V.P., went on point for Sonal and Marilyn the "insider" board candidates attempting to engage Mr. Cain on the district "fund balance" (surplus fund) and attempted to embarrass him publically, but it seemed to back-fire during the second open forum of the spring campaign season.

Mr. Smelly has been a long-term BOT member and supporter of the current administration and recent tax increases as well as under public scrutiny a few years ago for the hiring of his wife to the education foundation director position, which reportedly allows the appearance of a conflict of interest. And according to other media reports, the current board member, had attempted to sell the district a fleet of vehicles from the car dealership he was currently employed by a few years back.

Smelly is a big supporter of the record 2007 bond election (428+ million) and the subsequent tax increases they spun off along with backing the current "Taj Mahal" project being pushed by district vendors under the superintendent during a $10 million dollar budget crisis. Stay tuned...

Source: http://www.fortbendweb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1133&Itemid=101#jreactions

FBN: Teacher Association & FBEF Endorse Cain & Albright!

2009-04-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Fort Bend Employee Federation Endorses Albright And Cain In FBISD Board Election
April 7th, 2009 | by Bob Dunn, FortBendNow

The Fort Bend Employee Federation has endorsed Bruce Albright and Carlos Cain in the upcoming Fort Bend Independent School District Board of Trustees election.

The federation, an arm of the American Federation of Teachers that counts between 1,900 and 2,000 FBISD teachers and employees as members, made the endorsements through its Committee On Political Education, a political action committee.

Federation organizer Anthony Lacsamana said members of COPE voted during a dinner on Monday to endorse Albright for board Position 6, and Cain for Position 2. He indicated more than 1,500 federation members make regular contributions to the PAC and thus had the right to vote on the endorsements, although much fewer actually cast votes.

Cain, Albright and Position 6 candidate Marilyn Glover made presentations last week at a federation-sponsored candidates’ forum. Board President Sonal Bhuchar, who is running against Cain for Position 2, and Position 6 challenger Rodrigo Carreon, didn’t appear at the forum. Federation President Karrie Washenfelder said at the forum that Bhuchar and Rodrigo also did not fill out questionaires the organization asked for.

Albright and Cain both were highly critical of the current FBISD Board, and both portrayed the board as providing weak oversight of the district administration. . .(get the full story below)

Source: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/04/07/36919

Block-walking for Griffin Continues!

2009-04-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

Block-walking For Griffin Campaign Continues In Week 3!

As in his 2007 bid for a city council seat, Rodney and his supporters are block-walking much of district A. The response has been very positive so far with homeowners and residents of the community very interested in Griffin's proposals to get district A and Missouri City moving again.

Get the full piece at:

http://griffinforcouncil.blogspot.com/2009/04/block-walking-for-griffin-campaign.html

http://www.fortbendweb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1132&Itemid=90#jreactions

Chronicle: Teacher Association Eliminates 2 Potential Endorsements

2009-04-03T05:37:00.000-07:00

Two no-show FBISD candidates lose union endorsement
Three others pledge support of teachers and low-performing schools

By ZEN T.C. ZHENG HOUSTON CHRONICLE
April 3, 2009

Two of the five candidates seeking Fort Bend Independent School District trustee seats have lost the endorsement of a teacher and worker union after they failed to show up at a union-sponsored forum or answer in writing a forum questionnaire.
The Fort Bend Employee Federation’s event held at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square April 2 drew Position 2 candidate Carlos Cain, Position 6 seekers Bruce Albright and Marilyn Glover, groups of teachers and a handful of workers.

Karrie Washenfelder, federation president, said Position 2 incumbent Sonal Bhuchar and Position 6 candidate Rodrigo Carreon told her they couldn’t come due to other engagements. Neither of them e-mailed her written responses to a list of federation questions that were also asked of the candidates during the forum.

“The federation cannot endorse them,” Washenfelder said. . . get the full piece at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6357045.html

FBW: Cain Holds Different View Of FBISD!

2009-04-01T11:57:00.001-07:00

Position 2 trustee candidates hold different views of FBISD
By ZEN T.C. ZHENG HOUSTON CHRONICLE
April 1, 2009

Fort Bend school board president Sonal Bhuchar’s re-election bid is challenged by an opponent critical of what he describes as the district’s wasteful financial practices.

Bhuchar, a 48-year-old Sugar Land physical therapist, was elected to Position 2 in May 2006 and assumed the board’s presidency last year. She said she sees a changed school district over the past three years with achievements including new leadership, a comprehensive plan and a successful bond referendum. She said she played a role in the changes.

Opponent Carlos Cain, a 51-year-old self-employed oil field services consultant of Sugar Land, said changes in the school board following recent elections have not resulted in fundamental improvement in the district’s academic standing and the way school officials conduct business that he claims lacks transparency and accountability.

A recent highlight in their differences is the district’s proposed “global center for science and technology,” decried by Cain as a “pork barrel” waste but supported by Bhuchar, who is on a district-appointed committee to study the financial feasibility of the project.

Early voting runs April 27 through May 5. Election Day is May 9. . .

Get the full piece at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6353471.html

Or http://www.fortbendweb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1130&Itemid=101#jreactions

Or visit: http://www.carloscain.com

FBN: Missouri City Early Voting Begins April 27th

2009-03-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

Early Voting Begins April 27 For Missouri City Election
March 31st, 2009 | by John Pape, FBN

Missouri City residents can vote early in the city’s general election from Monday, April 27 through Tuesday, May 5.

Election Day is Saturday, May 9.

Two contested city council positions are on the ballot. Candidates for District A are Rodney L. Griffin and Bobby Marshall. The incumbent in District A, Eunice Reiter, is not seeking re-election.

The candidates for District C are Robin Elackatt and incumbent Barbara J. Gibson.

Incumbent Councilmembers Cynthia Gary in District B and Brett Kolaja in District D are unopposed and their names will not appear on the ballot.

During early voting, Missouri City residents may vote at any of the Fort Bend polling locations. On Election Day, Missouri City residents must vote at their assigned county precinct polling location. . .get the full story at: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/03/31/36759

FBISD Position 2 Race Heats Up

2009-03-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

FBN: FBISD Position 2 Race Heats Up

Proposed ‘Global Science’ Center Emerges As Issue In Position 2 Fort Bend ISD Board Race
March, 2009 | by Bob Dunn, FortBendNow.com

The race for Position 2 on the Fort Bend Independent School District Board of Trustees pits an incumbent, trying to complete policies and programs she helped put in place through a five-year plan, against a challenger who believes some of those policies and programs have themselves helped lead the district astray.

Carlos Cain, a self-employed oil industry consultant, is challenging Sonal Bhuchar, a physical therapist elected to the FBISD Board in 2006, for a seat on the district’s west side. However, all district residents may vote in the May 9 election.

While the campaign promises to include issues ranging from academic results to finance and student discipline, a proposed “Global Center for Science and Technology” seems to be taking on a symbolic role in the race...

Get the full story: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2009/03/26/36631

See: http://www.brucealbright.com or http://www.carloscain.com

Albright Release: Upcoming Election for Position 6, School Board Trustee, Fort Bend ISD

2009-03-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

This is concerning the School Board Election in May. Steve Smelly is
retiring from the school board and I have filed as a candidate for his
position in the upcoming election.

My wife Letty has been a teacher for 25 years, 19 of them with
FBISD. We have raised 2 children through Fort Bend Schools. I personally
have been teaching middle school kids at church for the past 18 years. We
both are very involved with the educational process in Fort Bend County.

I received my degree in Business & Personnel Management, from the
University of Central Florida in 1978. Since that time I have been involved
in the active management of several different companies. My specialty has
always been the ability to "turn around" operations.

I expect in the coming year, FBISD will need a fresh new prospective
in dealing with "funding problems, staffing, and student population growth", just to mention a few. They are going to need someone who can look from the "outside~ in", not the "inside-out".

Some of the other important issues are:

1) The Global Science Center:
I really don't think this district ought to be thinking about
building a "Taj Mahal", when we have teachers in classrooms without proper supplies such as copy paper, projectors, etc. and students without computers in classrooms for learning math and other computerized programs.

I think it's more important for the district to take care of the
instructional needs of all Educators and Students, not just a select few who
may or may not get any use out of this building.

2) The district should address the rate pay and spend more attention to the
needs of workers who are struggling within this current economy such as
hourly bus drivers, custodians, lunch room workers, and Teachers who are
struggling to make ends meet in this troubled economy.

3) We need to deal with the ever increasing, mushrooming layers of
administration and the salaries thereof the same.

4) Make sure our school employees have decent health care benefits and
pensions.

5) We also need to make sure that underperforming schools receive
instructional assistance in the classrooms with students, not in the
boardroom.

My pledge is simple; I will represent the students, educators, and
taxpayers with a fresh new prospective, and with the vigor of a roaring
lion.

VOTE ALBRIGHT FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE, A BRIGHTER TOMORROW !!!!

Respectfully,

Bruce D. Albright, L.S.
Candidate~ Board
Trustee, Pos 6
Fort Bend ISD

INTEGRITY ~ COMMON SENSE ~ EXCELLENCE (ICE)

Local Races See Some Candidates Turning To The Web For Support!

2009-03-23T04:47:00.000-07:00

Nothing new about state and national elections turning more to the internet to reach its constituents, but local elections have often been hit or miss. This election cycle we have found at least 2 of the 5 school board candidates in FBISD and 1 council candidate using interactive websites to reach the public. Some with online stores and paypal features to donate.

These are ones we have located thus far:

http://www.carloscain.com/

http://www.brucealbright.com/

http://griffinforcouncil.blogspot.com/

Visit them and learn more before you vote. Remember early voting starts April 27th with election day falling on May 9th this year...

Griffin & Elackatt Draw First Position On The May Ballot!

2009-03-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

Rodney Griffin, running for district A and Robin Elackatt, running for district C council seats in Mo-City supporting reform have drawn first position for the May 9th local election for city council. Griffin previously ran for the position A seat pushing for the Texas Parkway & Murphy Rd. improvements and has been partially credited with the city placing this on the front burners after many years of neglect.

We will update these city races as they progress! Click the title link above for more on local school district and city council races.

Source: http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com/2009/03/griffin-elackatt-draw-first-position-on.html

Griffin, Elackatt Challenge For Council Positions (See this chronicle report)

2009-03-19T03:54:00.000-07:00

Griffin wants to focus on the deterioration of the city’s older neighborhoods, which he said is “truly heartbreaking.”

“The lion’s share of our hard-earned tax dollars from the older communities are going down Highway 6 to special projects and developers, instead of revitalizing areas along Texas Parkway, the gateway to Missouri City.”

The city’s new redevelopment plan for Texas Parkway is “more smoke and mirrors,” said Griffin...

...“It seems to me that the city parents are talking the talk, but not walking the walk,” he said.

--FOLLOW the link below for more...

Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6318696.html

CAIN CHALLENGES BHUCHAR FOR POSITION 2 BOT SEAT IN FBISD ELECTIONS!

2009-03-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

CAIN MAKES CHALLENGE FOR FBISD POSITION 2 TRUSTEE

Carlos Cain, an oil field services consultant and taxpayer advocate, announced this week that he will seek the position 2 trustee seat currently held by Sonal Bhuchar.

Mr. Cain is best known for his efforts in 2007 and 2008 to push for more transparency and accountability in the bond process during the record bond election that lead to the first ever budget deficit in FBISD. He has also been involved in supporting teacher retention, academic improvement, single member school districts and improved discipline models that address real student needs.

At the 2008 district tax hearing he spoke up in favor of teacher salary increases and exposed the nearly $100 million dollar surplus fund, better known as the “fund balance account”.

Carlos has been a resident of Sugar Land since 2002 and is very concerned about the impact rising property taxes are having on our schools and community. He stated recently that “ the primary responsibility of the school board is over-sight, transparency and accountability”. It is this belief and commitment that he will bring to the position 2 trustee seat.

He can be contacted at: carloscain@rocketmail.com or 281-313-3796.

Popular Local Blog Covers Insiders & Outsiders In Latest FBISD BOT Races! (http://halfempth.blogspot.com)

2009-03-17T05:33:00.000-07:00

...In Fort Bend ISD, the Position 6 seat that was open on news from the announcement by Trustee Steve Smelley that he will not seek another term has three, count ‘em, three candidates. And not surprisingly, incumbent Sonal Bhuchar, occupying the Position 2 seat on the board will face opposition in this contentious school district.

The open Position 6 seat is being sought by Republican Precinct Chair Marilyn Glover, Consultant Bruce Albright, and Electrician and perennial candidate, Rodrigo Carreon.

Sonal Bhuchar is being opposed by Carlos Cain, a local school activist who has been, in the past, a very vocal opponent of recent school bond issues.

So who are these people, but more importantly, who is the “anointed one” that the board majority wants to be their new colleague on Position 6?

Well Rodrigo Carreon needs no introduction. He ran for the last open seat on the Fort Bend BOT, opposing David Menendez, getting 25% of the 10,354 votes cast (yes, voter turnout in school board elections are notoriously low). Carreon is a fixture at the Fort Bend ISD Monday evening board meetings, and always has a word of advice or a matter of interest to bring to the Board’s attention.

He is a community activist writ large.

So, no, he’s not the one that the BOT wants to join them.

Bruce Albright, lists himself as a Consultant. He is listed in the district’s “Ebriefs” newsletter as having addressed the Board with his concern with the process that is used in assigning parking spaces to students at Dulles High School. Albright felt that the process was not fair.

Marilyn Glover is all over the map when it comes to Fort Bend educational things. Not only is she an elected Precinct Chair for Precinct 2025 (Missouri City), she is currently a Director of the Fort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse. She joins a bi-partisan crew who support Mayor Allen Owen of Missouri City. She is (was?) on the Advisory Board of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County. She is listed as an 8-year member of the Fort Bend County Chamber of Commerce (under Vanguard Insurance Brokers), and on the 2004 Council of Resources for the Fort Bend County Women’s Center. She is listed as an Advisor on the CAC Advisory Council for the Child Advocates of Fort Bend.

She is also proudly listed as a Republican Precinct Chair that supported the candidacy of former Sugar Land Mayor Dean Hrbacek for U.S. Congress. You remember The Dean? The one who had his head photoshopped onto the body of (allegedly) David Wallace.

So, what, I ask, are the chances that the “One” we are looking for, is the latter of these three?

Position 2 Trustee Sonal Bhuchar faces opponent Carlos Cain.

Now that’s a name and a half.

Not only is it alliterative, but both “C” sounds are “hard.” The name speaks like a nuclear chain reaction.

Like the devil himself has come to call.

So who is this guy, Carlos Cain, and what does he bring to the table? Well, he also lists himself as a Consultant living in Sugar Land (honestly, is there anyone but Rodrigo with an honest to goodness job title? What are all these consultants doing running for a non-paying job?).

Carlos Cain, it would appear, is the local county seer. Way back in 2007 Cain went on record as opposing the Fort Bend ISD bond issue to raise funds to build new high school, middle school and elementary school campuses. Growth projections in the district showed that at the current rate of growth, FBISD would be bulging at the seams, and would need these new facilities within 10 years in order to stay ahead of the population curve. Here is what he wrote in FortBendNow:

"If We Build It, Will They Come?”

“What if they don’t come?”

“As a concerned parent and voter I have been reviewing the FBISD bond issue on the November ballot. I believe they are overstating the future needs of Fort Bend ISD and the cost of this “potential” growth. Who will pay for this? WE WILL! Every tax payer in FBISD. If passed, the new bond issue would push FBISD debt to approximately 1.5 Billion dollars. That is ($1,500,000,000.00). Think about it, and call 832-859-5783 for more information.”

That is, clear back in October of 2007 Carlos Cain foresaw the housing crisis and the downturn in real estate sales everywhere, including Fort Bend County.

Cain has also come to the conclusion that the Board of Trustees propose inflated bond issues so that unspent bond money can be used “for purposes other than what was initially approved by voters.” Former FBISD Chief Operations Officer Mike Seale as well as Superintendent Timothy Jenney have labeled these accusations as “false.”

Fort Bend ISD voters were not swayed by Cain’s arguments, however, despite his singular effort in organizing robo calls to 2,200 homes in the district. In November 2007 voters approved the massive $428 billion bond issue by 65% to 35%, with over 16,000 votes cast.

Now, come to find out, Cain was spot-on correct. Not about the financial gyrations that he was accusing the Board of going through. About the “will they come” thing.

According to Fort Bend County projections, “they” stopped coming...

Source: http://halfempth.blogspot.com/2009/03/fort-bend-isd-bot-has-5-candidates-for.html

Get more on these races at:

http://www.fortbendweb.com

http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com

http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com