Here are profiles of the candidates running in the November Third Election
[some candidates have not yet sent profiles to KSTAR]
Montgomery County Candidates running in the November third election
[Woodlands Township Board candidate information courtesy of Community Impact Newspaper-The Woodlands Edition
The Woodlands Township board Position 5 candidate QUESTION & ANSWER
Amos McDonald
Banker, BBVA Compass
What makes you the best candidate for this position?
I have a strong history of community support, serving on different boards and organizations. I have a very deep knowledge of what is happening in The Woodlands and a very wide net of people I can reach out to and talk to hear feedback from, from all walks of life. I’ve got a really good finger on the pulse of what’s happening as well as having a very strong financial background. I’m able to really sit and look at our planning and where we are and what we are doing.
What are some of the biggest challenges The Woodlands faces in the coming years?
I think transportation is a huge one. We’ve got to do a much better job of planning as to how we’re going to do [mobility], which means we have to have a much better relationship with the county and a better understanding with the county on how roads get built and function better.
ELECTION GUIDE
What are some solutions the township could implement to help solve The Woodlands’ traffic issues?
Right now we’re talking about signalization and stoplights to reduce some of the repetitiveness that’s happening. I think they’ve done a good job already with some of the lights that are coming in, like the flashing blinking yellow lights to help things move. But then again, I think the realization is going to be that if The Woodlands Township can’t do it, the county does. So again, working and prioritizing with the county so we can be part of the planning process of what that looks like.
Are you in favor of incorporation? Why or why not?
I am in favor of incorporation. When it will happen, I don’t know. We’ve really got to scope back and look at our 2011 plan for incorporation and all the fees associated with that so we can better understand how we can get there and become a city. There’s a lot to it.
In terms of community oversight, what role would you like to see the township take as The Woodlands nears build-out?
I think the biggest role I’d like to see them play is to make sure they are an active planner [and] participator and being a voice not only for the residents but to the residents. And there’s are a lot of plans in place that you can look at today that will show you what is coming over the next few years and making sure residents not only can see what’s planned [but] play a bigger role in the planning of those processes.
John McMullan
Attorney, Greenberg Traurig
What makes you the best candidate for this position?
Our community needs directors who will be outspoken advocates for our residents. I have a proven record of putting residents first, as demonstrated by my successful public opposition to the deeply flawed May 2015 road bond that included the Woodlands Parkway extension and my support of residents’ successful efforts to alter the Development Company’s clear-cutting practices. I will continue to stand up for residents.
What are some of the biggest challenges The Woodlands faces in the coming years?
We face several, including preparing for incorporation and ensuring that Montgomery County better maintains our roads and addresses mobility needs. We face the challenge of directors who want to spend residents’ money on expensive, experimental transit options like a transit center. It is especially important that we elect directors who will be careful stewards of residents’ tax dollars in this uncertain economic time in order to successfully meet these challenges.
What are some solutions the township could implement to help solve The Woodlands’ traffic issues?
The Woodlands does not control the roads within our boundaries, leaving us vulnerable to the whims of the county. Leaders and residents in The Woodlands must work together to make our voice heard at the county level, like when directors Hausman, Bunch, and I, together with 86 percent of voters in The Woodlands, stood together to defeat the May 2015 road bond that would have used taxpayer money to make our traffic worse. We must continue to apply political pressure so that those responsible for building and maintaining our roads do their job.
Are you in favor of incorporation? Why or why not?
I support incorporation so that The Woodlands is not eventually annexed by Houston. Before we incorporate, we must prepare. A first step—which I voted for—was the township contracting to purchase land for future city of The Woodlands infrastructure. However, merely buying land for future government buildings is not enough. Incorporation involves taking over services currently provided by the county, so we should begin reserving funds for future expenses associated with incorporation. By reserving funds in advance, we can minimize, or even eliminate, the anticipated tax rate increase.
In terms of community oversight, what role would you like to see the township take as The Woodlands nears build-out?
Residents pay a premium to live in The Woodlands and rightfully expect that the character of The Woodlands be preserved consistently throughout the community, such as with our streetscapes, parks and pathways. Only a handful of board members, including myself, fully supported the efforts to alter the Development Company’s clear-cutting practices, and the full board should have also supported the thousands of residents [who were against the Creekside Park clear-cutting].
Tom Sadlowski
Account manager, Constellation Brands
History
My family moved to The Woodlands in August, 2002, so we have been residents of the area for just over 13 years. We moved from the St. Louis area and fell in love with the look and layout of the area immediately. It has great schools, shopping, medical facilities, everything you need.
Issues
We need to focus on the future Woodlands now. That means getting ready for incorporation. We need to ensure that with what will certainly be additional costs associated with incorporation, that we do not burden residents with the expenses of unnecessary programs today. We also need to set a date in which we will establish a commission or change our voting structure so that incorporation can be completed. This would include letting voters be represented by village and not having all “at-large” voting structures. Controlling costs is the key or one day, many residents will have to ask themselves if they can afford the taxes to live in The Woodlands or if it is time to move.
The Woodlands has what would have to be called uneven services, but level payment issues. We all pay the same in terms of taxes and other fees to live in The Woodlands, but it is obvious that many areas get Grade A attention and maintenance, while others the bare minimum. Live near the front of The Woodlands, near Market Street or east of Gosling, you get the best of common area care and constant police visibility. Live west of that area, you get the secondary level. We all live in The Woodlands, we all pay for services, I want to ensure that ALL residents feel like they are getting their monies worth.
The Woodlands Township board Position 6 candidate Questions & Answers
Paul Brown
Consultant tontopb@comcast.net
281-419-7334
What makes you the best candidate for this position?
I am a 26-year resident who is sensitive to taxpayer interests. Independent of The [Woodlands] Development Co. and any other business that does business with The Woodlands Township, I will impartially represent taxpayers’ interests and apply common sense and deep business experience to township issues. I am a versatile business leader with proven management experience in sales, service, customer experience, operations, technology and organization transition. I spent 25 years with JP Morgan, then seven years as an executive in successful Internet startups. In 2007, I started my own consulting company.
ELECTION GUIDE
What are some of the biggest challenges The Woodlands faces in the coming years?
The biggest challenges are rooted in communication and organization. I believe annual budgets should be submitted annually to taxpayers for approval. Directors should be completely independent of commercial entities that do business with The Woodlands Township for 10 years prior to standing for election. The Woodlands Township should have road management in the hands of a single commissioner, and the precinct should cover the township’s boundaries. We need township officials to articulate township positions on issues important to our community and to take an active leadership role in mobilizing taxpayer votes for elected officials in Montgomery and Harris counties who will be sympathetic to The Woodlands’ interests. The upcoming road bond has no funding for residential areas of The Woodlands.
What are some solutions the township could implement to help solve The Woodlands’ traffic issues?
The biggest issues regarding traffic in The Woodlands are access into and out of The Woodlands on Research Forest and Lake Woodlands drives and Woodlands Parkway and to the southern portion of The Woodlands over the Gosling Road and Kuykendahl Road bridges. Improvements for all of these roads should be included in the November road bond. Additional funding needs to be provided for turning lane improvements and traffic signals in the residential areas of The Woodlands. Without all of these improvement areas included in the November bond bill, residents should vote the bond down. The taxpayers in The Woodlands pay above 40 percent of the taxes in Montgomery County, and we should participate in a larger amount of the bond’s dollars.
Are you in favor of incorporation? Why or why not?
No, I am not in favor of The Woodlands Township becoming a city. The outsourcing model works great and is inexpensive compared to the cost of running a city. Our township officials should guide taxpayers to vote for Montgomery and Harris County officeholders who will favor The Woodlands’ interests. We pay a lot of both counties’ taxes.
Are you in favor of implementing bicycle and pedestrian lanes in The Woodlands? Why or why not?
Yes I am in favor of making The Woodlands a bicycle-friendly community on our roads. The problem is that The Woodlands does not control the roads; they are controlled by Montgomery County, and county officials in Precinct 2 and 3 have no interest in funding improvements to our roads for cyclists. Unfortunately, The Woodlands Township chose to fund a study on needs rather than press Precinct 2 and 3 commissioners to include a basic bicycle plan in the road bond. We need to press the commissioners for action. I myself have stopped riding because it is so dangerous out on our roads.
Matthew Burton
Strategy director, United Rentals Inc.
mburton801@gmail.com
801-319-0622
What makes you the best candidate for this position?
I have a proven track record of advocating for residents on vital issues, even when that means taking on development companies and other powerful entrenched interests. I’ve fought the battles for residents even when the outcome was uncertain and it wasn’t politically expedient to do so. I led against the clear- cutting practices of the Development Co. in February of this year. Over 2,200 residents joined me on the petition, and we garnered a steady stream of media coverage in our advocacy for change. I also fought to defeat the May 2015 road bond that would have extended Woodlands Parkway. I was actively and publicly against the road bond from the start and rallied my supporters to the cause of defeating this bad policy at the polls. As the only Harris County resident on the board, I would bring a unique perspective to our board discussions and help create a healthy link between our community and Harris County leadership.
What are some of the biggest challenges The Woodlands faces in the coming years?
Clear-cutting and new development not consistent with George Mitchell’s vision for our community, traffic gridlock and incorporating as a city at the right time and in the right way.
What are some solutions the township could implement to help solve The Woodlands’ traffic issues?
Complete the bridges—Kuykendahl and Gosling—over Spring Creek to link Creekside Park with the other Woodlands villages. The gridlock created by the current narrow bridges is not only a nuisance—it is a safety hazard. Complete the Hwy. 242 and Lake Woodlands improvements that are proposed to improve traffic flow. Work with Montgomery County to get a smart road bond on the ballot for 2016 that includes essential projects but excludes the Woodlands Parkway extension, which nobody wants except developers. If our county officials refuse to work with us, then we may need to accelerate the timetable of incorporation so that we as a city can address our own road improvements directly.
Are you in favor of incorporation? Why or why not?
I believe we need to look at incorporation sooner rather than later. The Woodlands is consistently rated as the No. 1 city in Texas, but we’re not even a real city. There is a lot of fear-mongering on the part of the Development Company—and their elected allies—about incorporation because they don’t want to have their plans inconvenienced by city-controlled zoning and ordinances. Cost concerns with incorporation are valid, but with careful business planning these can be mitigated. Only with incorporation will residents gain true control over our community. Isn’t it time we govern ourselves?
Are you in favor of implementing bicycle and pedestrian lanes in The Woodlands? Why or why not?
The current system of bike and pedestrian paths are wonderful for getting around individual villages, but overall connectivity with other villages and with the Town Center could be improved. With additional links they could become a viable commute option during cooler weather for those so inclined. I believe we should also explore the option of a high-speed cycling multipurpose paved path along the Spring Creek corridor. We have the potential to create a world-class attraction that would add to our bike-friendly, active, outdoor community brand. While admittedly ambitious, such a path would have the potential to eventually extend over 30 miles and create a beautiful setting for high-speed cycling free from car exhaust and dangerous intersections.
Chuck Meyer
We first moved to The Woodlands in 1995, so that I could work in Compaq’s legal department.
The biggest issues facing The Woodlands are: 1. planning for incorporation — we need to determine when, how, and in what form we incorporate and establish a dedicated fund in the budget to ease the pain of transition from Township to City status.
Developing a working relationship, not an antagonistic relationship, with other officials in the County, particularly the County Judge and the Commissioners Riley and Noack, so that our mobility needs are adequately and efficiently addressed.
Biography
Chuck Meyer, his wife of 32 years, Monika Voigt Meyer, and his three daughters Kathryn, Emily and Laura, have lived in The Woodlands for most of the past twenty years. For three of those twenty years, the Meyer Family lived outside London, England, while Chuck served as the head of BlackBerry Europe. During that time, Monika and Chuck maintained their residence in The Woodlands,maintaining their home in Alden Bridge before returning to The Woodlands in 2004 to a home in Panther Creek.
The Meyer children have been educated in both public and private schools in The Woodlands since 1998. Currently, Emily and Laura are still in high school — Emily in a special needs program at College Park High School, and Laura at the John Cooper School, where she is on the Honor Committee and a co-captain on the cheer squad. His eldest daughter, Kathryn, is an academic facilitator responsible for a peer tutoring program at Texas Tech. Emily is a Juvenile Batten Disease victim. For more information on Juvenile Batten Disease, please visit http://beyondbatten.org/
Chuck has had a long career in engineering, law, business and as a patent professional protecting, defending and exploiting the intellectual property of others. Currently, Chuck is building up his own firm, Law Firm of Chuck Meyer, PLLC, through which he serves small and medium size entrepreneurial companies as a technology lawyer, patent attorney, and business counsellor. He also serves as a part-time appellate prosecutor for Hardin County, Texas, and is a managing member of i2i Resolutions Group, LLC, through which he provides mediation and arbitration services.
He is an active member of several community, professional and political organizations, including the The Woodlands Rotary Club, which in 2015 named him a Paul Harris Fellow for his service on the public relations committee of the Club. Chuck is also a member of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, the Houston International Arbitrators Club and the Knights of Columbus Council 12327, which meets at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, where he is a parishioner. He is a former visiting assistant professor of intellectual property law at the University of Houston Law Center and at the University of Pittsburgh Law School.
Chuck began his professional career as an electronics engineer with the Department of Defense in the Pentagon. After a few years, he transferred to the US Patent and Trademark Office to become a patent examiner in the software-implemented inventions unit. While a patent examiner, Chuck put himself through law school at night at the American University’s Washington College of Law. After graduation, Chuck became a judicial law clerk for a United States District Court Judge in Honolulu, Hawaii. Two years later, Chuck was appointed as a judicial law clerk to a Justice on the Ohio Supreme Court.
In 2005, he earned a graduate degree in law from the University of Oxford, England, having earlier obtained a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia, an M.S. degree in Operations Research from George Washington University and a JD degree from the Washington College of Law of the American University. He has had a varied and successful career as an engineer, a patent examiner, a judicial law clerk, a lawyer in both private practice and in-house with two corporations (Compaq (now HP) and Research In Motion (now BlackBerry)), a business leader in a publicly-traded company, a partner in a national virtual law firm, FisherBroyles LLP, and more recently in his own firm, Law Firm of Chuck Meyer, PLLC
Ann Snyder
President and CEO, Interfaith of The Woodlands
snyderannk@comcast.net
281-367-9631
What makes you the best candidate for this position?
Throughout my 26 years in this community, I have gained a unique perspective by listening to the voices of the residents—children, seniors, families and business owners. This has allowed me to be an advocate in protecting what we love most about The Woodlands. I have run a large nonprofit organization for 12 years. I helped govern a very large school district for 15 years. I have worked with spiritual, corporate and civic groups for decades, such as the Conroe ISD board of trustees for 15 years—two terms as president—chairman of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce board, The Woodlands Rotary Club’s first woman president and named one of Houston’s Most Influential Women 2015. I will continue to be the voice of the residents on The Woodlands Township board of directors.
What are some of the biggest challenges The Woodlands faces in the coming years?
There is too much traffic. We need traffic solutions that address the concerns of our residents and preserve our high quality of life. I will work to pass the November 2015 road bond. We must dedicate all necessary resources to maintain and enhance our quality of life while keeping our taxes low. The balance between sales, hotel and property taxes should be continually re-examined. The security of our hometown is a high priority for me. Our community thrives when residents feel safe. We must dedicate all necessary resources to keeping neighborhoods safe so that children and families can enjoy our parks, pathways and village centers in comfort. We must continue a high presence of law enforcement.
What are some solutions the township could implement to help solve The Woodlands’ traffic issues?
Pass the November 2015 road bond. Work with Harris and Montgomery counties and with the state of Texas to build better and safer roads for our growing community.
Are you in favor of incorporation? Why or why not?
I am a strong believer that the residents of The Woodlands should decide their own future regarding incorporation. I am committed to ensuring that all avenues for the future of The Woodlands are thoroughly investigated by the township board. I believe it is the responsibility of the board to educate the community. I trust the people to make a decision when all the facts are known.
Are you in favor of implementing bicycle and pedestrian lanes in The Woodlands? Why or why not?
When The Woodlands was designated “A Bicycle Friendly Community,” Le Tour d’ Woodlands was initiated under my leadership as a one-of-a-kind cycling event offering cycling opportunities for individuals and families. I am pleased to see the current study being done to consider bicycle lanes and will be interested in those findings.
The Woodlands Township board Position 7 candidate Question & Answers
Laura Fillault
Homemaker
laurakfillault@yahoo.com
832-340-4230
What makes you the best candidate for this position?
An inordinate amount of time and money has been spent by the current leadership of the township board on projects that do not benefit the heart of the community. The recent divisive road bond issue was openly supported by my opponent, while 86 percent of residents vigorously opposed this imposition on Woodlands Parkway and their quality of life. I will be a director who thinks of residents first and puts people above politics. We need to challenge overt moves by tree-cutting developers, special interest groups and county commissioners to change and commercialize the idyllic nature of The Woodlands. I will join other resident advocates in helping to form and manage a citizen-led style of government that will help to move us into an even brighter future for our special hometown.
ELECTION GUIDE
What are some of the biggest challenges The Woodlands faces in the coming years?
There must be a stopping point at which we say, “No more new roads.” Continued clear-cutting for proposed widening of roads and for residential and commercial development destroys the natural beauty. If necessary, the township should consider legislation that will allow The Woodlands to have more planning and zoning control. Over-development, or developing too quickly, is another concern. How are our restaurants and other small businesses handling the increasing number of competitors in The Woodlands? What is the impact of a 22-story condominium on our already congested downtown area? This lends itself to the argument that The Woodlands seek more control over its planning and zoning authority.
What are some solutions the township could implement to help solve The Woodlands’ traffic issues?
The road to traffic improvement has been analyzed by the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the Texas Department of Transportation. The South County Mobility Plan and other studies are readily available. We need to take a professional view beginning with existing studies and review them from a long-range perspective. We need our township board and county commissioners to focus on documented problems and solutions, not hodge-podge wish lists of commissioners making deals with developers and contractors. I will join in calling for an in-depth study that will provide this community with solid, professional, expert traffic analysis and engineering that one of the nation’s leading master-planned communities deserves. We hold public meetings to review details, costs, timetables and gain the consensus of the community.
Are you in favor of incorporation? Why or why not?
I am strongly in favor of incorporation for The Woodlands. Despite our lengthy time frame, incorporation of The Woodlands is eminent. It is vitally important The Woodlands begins taking responsible steps that will mitigate the associated cost of incorporation for the residents. Despite earlier “studies” that purport to make incorporation unaffordable, I side with the majority of residents that believe we can manage incorporation expenses while gaining control of our community’s future development. I’m interested in actively planning our future and taking necessary steps toward independence with the understanding that this process is a long one. It’s absolutely imperative we plan now and make all budget decisions with incorporation in mind.
Are you in favor of implementing bicycle and pedestrian lanes in The Woodlands? Why or why not?
The Woodlands hike and bike pathways are one of the cherished features of our community. Traffic in The Woodlands is already congested, and I am not in favor of taking a lane of traffic to create a bicycle lane. However, I agree that removing curbs along our roadways and adding shoulders will create safer passages for bicyclists on the roads as well as allowing our first responders a place to pull over if necessary. The township has commissioned a pedestrian/bicycle master plan. As director, I will work to keep our community abreast of the results and recommendations of this study and encourage our residents to tell us what they want and don’t want for pedestrian and bicycle enhanced trail ways as a result of the study.
Bruce Tough
Attorney, The Tough Law Firm
btough@toughlawfirm.net
936-321-2303
What makes you the best candidate for this position?
I have been involved in The Woodlands since its inception. My father, Coulson Tough, was hired by George Mitchell to develop and implement his long-term vision of the planned community called The Woodlands. I was able to have the opportunity to learn firsthand through my father and other visionaries that were hired to work with George Mitchell and create the perfect community. I worked on the first construction crew to build the [Woodlands] Resort and Conference Center, and I have attended every milestone event in The Woodlands since. I will continue to use my experience and skill to represent my fellow residents and maintain the superior quality of life we have come to expect.
What are some of the biggest challenges The Woodlands faces in the coming years?
Sustainability will be a big challenge because of the rapid growth and development that has made The Woodlands an economic engine. Three-quarters of the budget is derived from sales tax and hotel tax, which is from people who come outside The Woodlands. Once The Woodlands is built out the growth will not allow us to keep the tax rate at such a compressed level. It is paramount to continue planning for the future with reserves to pay off our debt and to maintain the exemplary services we have in The Woodlands through smart growth and redevelopment. Mobility will be a constant issue because of the rapid growth around The Woodlands, which is causing more traffic. We will need to find more transportation and mobility solutions and plan for the refurbishing of our roads.
What are some solutions the township could implement to help solve The Woodlands’ traffic issues?
Recently the board decided not to partner with Precincts 2 or 3 for intersection and road improvements and has withdrawn funding to participate in joint mobility solutions. The board will need to decide whether it wants to sit back and let the county provide all of the road intersections and mobility improvements or provide input in those areas. The WRUD has built all of the roads in The Woodlands, and they have done that at an accelerated rate, and then those roads were dedicated to the county. The WRUD also partnered with the Houston-Galveston Area Council to provide matching federal and state funds to maximize expenditures on road development. The Woodlands should adopt and study this plan because if we are incorporated, we inherit all the roads and the water and sewer obligations.
Are you in favor of incorporation? Why or why not?
Once all residential development is complete, only commercial development and redevelopment will remain. Our plan for incorporation must include the assumption that all the water and sewer services are provided by our Municipal Utility Districts and maintaining our roads serviced by the counties. The township must be strategic to accomplish our goals at the best time and at the lowest cost. We have maintained an enviable low tax rate for a community our size. The MUD rates will continue to stabilize and equalize throughout The Woodlands once the residential development is complete. I’m planning for our future. Specifically, I’ve proposed the creation of an incorporation fund to provide for maintaining and improving our roads and absorbing the cost of these additional services.
Are you in favor of implementing bicycle and pedestrian lanes in The Woodlands? Why or why not?
If you will notice on the pathways and bicycle lanes, we have a number of residents who are physically active. We need to plan for pedestrian and bike lanes. We need to do it in a safe and efficient manner, and not to interfere with traffic flow and not to have bike lanes on a more congested avenue. Right now, we have a consultant to generate recommendations for pedestrian and bike lanes that would minimize the impact of traffic but would maximize the access to amenities. We could put a path corridor in the open space reserves, which would be off our roadways allowing travel from the west side of The Woodlands to Town Center. I am in favor of bicycle and pedestrian lanes in The Woodlands.
New Caney ISD School Board Candidates-Position 4:
Chris Wootton
I am seeking to serve as NCISD Board member in position #4 utilizing my experience in the areas of leadership, management, financial planning, accounting, finance, and business ownership. My desire is to improve the quality of our children’s educations (including 3 of my own) by focusing on three primary areas. First, to the extent allowed by law, is to increase Board and District TRANSPARENCY with the public and to restore a measure of trust that appears to have been eroded over past years. Second, is to promote the EFFICIENT use of District (tax-payer) resources at all levels. Third, is to create an environment of ACCOUNTABILITY (responsibility) at all levels of leadership. I believe in leadership by service and by building and maintaining relationships to understand varying points of view and achieve results. Famed leadership author John Maxwell in his book the “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader” has said that “everything rises and falls on leadership”. That is to say, whether it’s our School Board, our Administrators, or those most important figures fighting the battle on the front lines, our teachers, their ability to lead personnel and/or students will determine our districts’ and more importantly our students’ success. The results I hope to achieve, with your help, will be to see our children educated in a challenging way and prepared to face life holistically and not just to say we met some government metric.
Greg Green
New Caney has always been my home. I graduated from NCHS in 1992 and my wife (also a graduate of NCHS) choose to raise our two sons here in New Caney ISD. Upon graduating, I joined the United States Air Force where I spent 4 years. I currently work for the Houston Police Department where I have been a Police Officer for 18 years. Running for the school board is not something I decided to do on a whim. I see areas within NCISD where I can contribute and make a difference. Improving communication with the community and supporting teachers are my top priorities. The previous boards, as well as the current board, have done a good job in planning for the growth of our area. I believe there are many challenges ahead for our kids as well as our educators. I will base my decisions on what is best for ALL kids of New Caney ISD, not a select few. I want to be a part of continuing to ensure that NCISD is the best place to get an education. My name is Greg Green and I would appreciate your vote on November 3, 2015.
Splendora Mayor’s Race
James Dean
Background: Dean has lived in Splendora for 61 years. He worked as a Maintenance Supervisor for the Roman Forest and Patton Village Police Departments.
Issues in Splendora-Dean says the biggest issue in Splendor is there are not enough police officers patrolling the streets.
Splendora ISD School Board Position 4
Rex Fry
I am a 1977 graduate of Splendora high school. I attended Splendora ISD from the 1st grade through graduation. I have been employed with the Splendora post office since 1978. I started the Splendora youth basketball league. I led the efforts to acquire land and develop the community youth baseball and softball fields. I have been very active in my community my entire adult life. I have volunteered on numerous committees in the district as well as the athletic booster club. I am married with 3 step children. The youngest which also went to Splendora from k-12. I was appointed to the board in 2000 and have served on the board since then with the exception of one year. I have served as secretary, vice-president and currently serve as president of the board. I am the longest serving active board member of Sisd. My biggest concern for the district is the projected growth coming to the district with the completion of the Grand Parkway and upgrading our facilities to stay ahead of that growth. Another concern is how the district will handle the loss of tax revenue with the proposition increasing the homestead exemption in the upcoming election.
Will Gollihar
I moved to Splendora in 1992 as Head Girl’s Basketball and Assistant Volleyball coach. I moved to the junior high in April 1995 as the assistant principal. I assumed the role of junior high principal in June 1997, a position I held until retiring in May 2008. I currently serve as the principal at Gulf Coast Trades Center Raven School which is an open enrollment charter school associated with a residential facility. We work with adjudicated high school male students from across the state of Texas.
I am completing my first term as a member of the Splendora ISD School Board. I believe my thirty-five years in education gives me an insight into the issues facing our district, our students, and our parents. We have made progress over the twenty-three years I have been a part of the Splendora community and I would like to continue to do my part moving forward.
We have growth concerns as well as financial issues. Our taxable industry base is not as large as our fellow districts have so when we talk about a penny of tax in Splendora it raises a small amount in comparison to New Caney and Conroe where the same penny raises potentially a six figure amount. This makes it imperative we are financially fiscal when we make decisions for the short term as well as long term. Our community passed a TRE election last fall which enable our district to bring in substantial money to address salaries and benefits for all our employees. We have a solid fund balance but everyone is waiting to see what the latest court challenge to school funding will result in as well as prognostications that the next biennium will see potentially a decrease in funding available from the state.
Our growth has been relatively incremental over the past few years but it is only a matter of time before our community potentially faces the type of growth our surrounding area has seen. We have to be proactive in securing our vision on what our facility needs will be which is why we began our latest round of long range facility planning in August. We invite any community member to attend these meetings to offer their view as to what they feel is in the best interest of our district.
J.D. Newell
I grew up in southern Missouri in a small town called Republic. I was an only child but was raised with the true values of respect, discipline and dedication to self, family and country. While working in the United States Navy I met my wife of now 14 years and we have 2 wonderful children. A very vocal 14 year old 8th grade boy and a even more vocal 10 year old 5th grade girl and both attend SISD. My work is what is considered shift work and it takes a lot from our family when it comes to those special moments of being together, i.e. Christmas, Thanksgiving, school games etc. but we stick together and make it work that’s what families do. My professional story begins below.
After leaving high school, I joined the Navy in 1996 as sprite young 18 year old and went on to serve in 3 different military campaigns overseas including: 2 tours to Operation Northern Watch Incirlik Air Base Turkey, Operation Southern Watch Prince Sultan Air Base Saudi Arabia and Operation Allied Force Kosovo working as an aviation electrician and plane captain on EA-6B Prowlers attached to VAQ-134 Garudas in Whidbey Island, WA. After my second tour to Turkey in 2001, I was offered a job to work here in Houston for the Federal Aviation Administration as a journeyman electrician and HVAC Technician. I ultimately took the FAA job in Nov. 2001 and we made Splendora our home. A rare opportunity happened in 2008 when the FAA decided to hire more Air Traffic Controllers. Being a private pilot with an instrument rating, I took the risk of losing my current position within the FAA to give it a shot. With the help of a lot of local Splendora folks I was ultimately successful and completely indebted to them for their help in me achieving my goal because I couldn’t have done it without them.
This leads me to why I’m running for SISD position 4. For the past 14 years living within SISD I’ve always felt that I have a special place in my heart and the talents to serve my community from within. I’ve dedicated almost my entire adult hood to serving my country as member in uniform and as a public servant, now its time to serve my community also. Being on the school board is about being on a team that is here to collaborate effectively and see that the future of our children’s education prospers to the fullest extent possible. I’ve got over 13 years of experience dealing with collaboration as a NATCA and PASS Union Representative. I also currently sit on the FAA Federal Credit Union board. What I see today is that there are a lot of unanimous votes within our current school board and to me that means that there isn’t a difference of opinions when sometimes there really needs to be. We all have our different views on policies, procedures, etc. and the vote should reflect that without being unanimous all the time.
If I’m elected as a member of this school board, I assure the community of Splendora that I will stand behind my vote regardless of how many other members agree or disagree with me. I am a man of integrity and have learned through life experiences to stand up for what I believe in, make no bones about it.
New Waverly ISD School Board, Position 4
Cornelia Goffey
I was born in Walker County and except for a few years, lived my entire life here. I’m a product of the New Waverly schools. I am married to Booker T. Goffney; he too, was born and raised in this county. We are the proud parents of two children, Billy and Nadia. They have given us the love of our lives, grandchildren!
I am a graduate of Sam Houston State University with a major in Social Services. Later, I returned to Sam and received my elementary education certification. My teaching career of forty years was happily spent at Rudd Elementary, which is now known as New Waverly Elementary School.
I am a candidate for the Board of Trustees, Position four. It would be a great honor and privilege for me to serve in this capacity.
New Waverly Independent School District is a highly successful school district. Because of the high academic achievement and the small school environment, many parents seek to enroll their children here. A subdivision is in the process of being developed in the District which will in turn create a rapid enrollment of new students. As exciting as this is, it presents a situation of the need for more classroom space. New Waverly has a tax base that is reliant almost exclusively on home owners. This poses a problem of generating funds to build new schools, that are and will be desperately needed.
This will be a major project for the Board of Trustees to work with the governing body of the community to generate more capital in order to finance needed facilities. Another issue facing the District is low teacher pay. New Waverly’s teacher pay is significantly lower than other schools within a fifty mile radius. Low teacher turn over has been the main key to high academic success. We must raise the pay of our teachers in order to maintain the quality of teachers that we have, and to attract future highly qualified educators.
My knowledge of the needs of the District are unique in that I know the schools from the inside having been a teacher in the District, and I also know it from the standpoint of the community having lived here for most of my life. I look forward to working with the District and the community to maintain the high standard of excellence that has become synonymous with the name New Waverly Independent School District.
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