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.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Griffin Address Important Council Issues--EARLY VOTING STARTS THIS MONDAY APRIL 27TH!
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.
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!
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)
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)
Friday, April 17, 2009
Just In From FortBendWeb: Quail Valley Board & City Council C Incumbent May Have Violated State & Federal Laws!
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
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
Monday, April 13, 2009
FROM GRIFFIN CAMPAIGN: THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE
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
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
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Audience Heckler At Public Forum Turns Out To Be School Board Vice President!
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
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
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
FBN: Teacher Association & FBEF Endorse Cain & Albright!
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
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
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Block-walking for Griffin Continues!
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
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
Friday, April 3, 2009
Chronicle: Teacher Association Eliminates 2 Potential Endorsements
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
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
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
FBW: Cain Holds Different View Of FBISD!
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
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