BOND ELECTIONS, RACES FOR CITY COUNCIL & SCHOOL BOARD ON THE BALLOT IN AREA COUNTIES

  

While the Burton ISD school board election is the only contested race in Washington County this Saturday, cities and school districts in surrounding counties have many options on their ballots.

Some of the big-ticket items include school bond propositions in Navasota and Hempstead; mayoral races in Hempstead and Caldwell; council elections in Somerville, Navasota, Giddings, Sealy, Hempstead and Round Top; and school board elections in Bellville, Caldwell, Somerville, Hempstead and La Grange.

Navasota

Voters in Navasota ISD will have two bond proposals to decide on. Proposition A, worth $71 million, would fund the construction of a fourth elementary school, the purchase of land for future schools, new buses, facility improvements and upgrades to school safety. Proposition B would move $3.04 million from the existing Maintenance and Operations side of the budget to the Interest and Sinking side over the course of the next six years.

Hempstead

Hempstead residents will have a say in several city and school district matters, with some of the main issues being Hempstead ISD’s two bond propositions. Proposition A, for $42.32 million, would pay for a replacement campus for the Hempstead Early Childhood Education Center, cafeteria and band hall additions at the high school, an auxiliary gym addition and roof replacement at the middle school, plus other campus and security improvements. Proposition B, valuing at $3.4 million, calls for a new synthetic turf field and track at Bobcat Stadium.

For the Hempstead City Council, the mayor’s seat and two council positions are up for election. Mayor Erica Gillum is seeking another term and will face Katherine Ragston Ward. Position 1 incumbent Mildred Jefferson is running against Quinn Anthony Navarre Jr. and Dave Shelburne. Running for the Position 2 seat of Cindy Pearce, who is not pursuing re-election, are Annette Rutledge Baker, Valencia Renita Tompkins and Veronica Celaya Klausmeyer.

On the Hempstead School Board, the Position 5 seat of Ricky Pearce, who is not running for re-election, is sought by Susan Hopkins and Donald Jeffrey.

Caldwell

The Caldwell City Council has one race for consideration, that being the mayor’s race between incumbent Janice Easter and challenger Brad Oliver.

On the Caldwell School Board, three candidates are vying for two seats: incumbent Gregory Cook, Michael Cook and Craig Ayers Jr. Erica Chollett is not running for another term.

Somerville

The Somerville City Council has three seats up for election, and four candidates have filed: incumbent Bobby J. Schoppe, Mark Sager, Laura Hoover and Jerri Negrete. Deonna Strickland Moses and Amanda Flencher are not seeking re-election.

Three seats are also on the Somerville School Board ballot, with four candidates up for consideration: incumbents Melissa Tharp and David Idlebird, along with Michael Moses and Jessica Douglas. Joe Gonzales is not running for the board again.

Giddings

Two seats on the Giddings City Council will be voted on, and there are three candidates. Incumbents Linda Pruitt and Mark Muniz filed for re-election, and Gina Reat is also seeking a spot on the council.

Bellville

The Bellville School Board has one contested position on the ballot. Position 3 incumbent Jim Batson faces Kara Rathbone.

Sealy

The Sealy City Council also has a single contested seat, with incumbent Chris Noack being challenged by Melaney McShan.

La Grange

One seat on the La Grange School Board is sought by three individuals. Incumbent Calvin Mersiovsky faces Ryan W. Kleiber and Verlia Mosley-Rhodes.

Round Top

Two alderman seats are up for election on the Round Top Town Council. Incumbents Lynn Conine and Owen Massey are on the ballot along with Karen Duddlesten. Meanwhile, Mayor Mark Massey is not seeking another term, and his seat will be filled by Judith Vincent.