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Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Daily Cougar
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Daily Cougar
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election 2009 HHHHHHHHH
Voters’ Guide On THE bALLOT STaTE OF TEXaS
constitutional amendments Texas voters have approved 456 amendments to the Texas Constitution since its adoption in 1876. propoSitioN 1 “ The constitutional amendment authorizing the financing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or for the construction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation.” propoSitioN 2 “ The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead.” propoSitioN 3 “ The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.” propoSitioN 4 “ The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.” propoSitioN 5 “ The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.” propoSitioN 6 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized.” propoSitioN 7 “The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.” propoSitioN 8 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans hospitals in this state.” propoSitioN 9 “The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.” propoSitioN 10 “The constitu-
tional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts may serve terms not to exceed four years.” propoSitioN 11 “ The constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the state, a political subdivision of the state, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.”
cITY OF HOUSTOn
Mayor The mayor is the city’s executive officer, chief administrator, and official representative. The mayor is responsible for the general city management and that all laws and ordinances are enforced. The mayor presides over the City Council with voting privileges. The mayor is elected for a two-year term and is limited to three terms. mayor Peter Brown Amanda Ulman Luis Ralph Ullrich, Jr. Dan Cupp Roy Morales Annise D. Parker Gene Locke
city council City Council is the city’s legislative body with power to enact and enforce all ordinances and resolutions. Council members are elected for a two-year term and are limited to three terms. couNcil memBer, diStrict a Alex Wathen Brenda Stardig Jeff Downing Lane Lewis Darrell Joe Rodriguez Bob Schoellkopf Amy Peck couNcil memBer, diStrict B Roger F. Bowden Jarvis Johnson couNcil memBer, diStrict c Anne Clutterbuck Randy Locke Write-in couNcil memBer, diStrict d Otis Jordan Larry McKinzie Wanda Adams couNcil memBer, diStrict e
Mike Sullivan Wayne Garrison couNcil memBer, diStrict F Robert Kane Mike Laster Al Hoang Peter Acquaro Khalid Khan Joe Chow Lewis Cook couNcil memBer, diStrict g Richard Sedita Dexter Handy Oliver Pennington George Foulard Mills Worsham couNcil memBer, diStrict h Edward “Ed” Gonzalez couNcil memBer, diStrict i James Rodriguez couNcil memBer, at-large poSitioN 1 Don Cook Herman Litt Lonnie Allsbrooks Stephen C. Costello Karen Derr Rick Rodriguez Kenneth Perkins J. Brad Batteau couNcil memBer, at-large poSitioN 2 Sue Lovell Andrew C. Burks, Jr. Roslyn “Rozzy” Shorter M. Griff Griffin couNcil memBer, at-large poSitioN 3 Melissa Noriega couNcil memBer, at-large poSitioN 4 C. O. “Brad” Bradford Deborah Shafto Noel Freeman Curtis Garmon couNcil memBer, at-large poSitioN 5 Carlos A. Obando Jack Christie Davetta Daniels Jolanda “Jo” Jones
city controller The controller is the city’s chief financial officer and is responsible for ensuring that the assets of the city are properly accounted. The controller is elected for a two-year term and is limited to three terms. city coNtroller M. J. Khan Ronald Green Pam Holm
cITY OF BEllaIRE
Mayor Cindy Siegel Robert Riquelmy
city council couNcil memBer, poSitioN 1 Will Hickman couNcil memBer, poSitioN 3 Corbett Daniel Parker Roseann Rogers Marie Anstead Richard E. Franke couNcil memBer, poSitioN 5 Tina Blum Cohen Andrew Friedberg James B. Jameson Johnnie P. Frazier Special electioN, couNcil memBer, poSitioN 6 Jim Hotze Mandy Nathan Scott Scheinthal
HOUSTOn cOMMUnITY cOllEGE SYSTEM
Board of Trustees The HCC Board of Trustees is HCC’s governing body. The nine members of the board are elected from single, geographic districts for staggered six-year terms with no term limits and serve without pay. truStee, diStrict 3 Diane Olmos Guzman Mary Ann Perez truStee, diStrict 6 Sandie Meyers truStee, diStrict 8 Write-in
Propositions propoSitioN, North Forest iSd The annexation of the following territory for junior college purposes: the territory within all of the North Forest Independent School District.
truStee, poSitioN 7 Marilyn L. Swick Gary Floyd Gary L. Cook
cHannElVIEW ISD
Bond election propoSitioN No. 1 The issuance of $73.77 million bonds for school buildings and school sites and the levying of the tax in payment thereof. propoSitioN No. 2 The issuance of $37.37 million bonds for school buildings, including athletic, agriculture, security and technology improvements and transportation facilities, school sites and school buses and the levying of the tax in payment thereof.
cYPRESSFaIRBanKS ISD
Trustees truStee, poSitioN 3 Bill Morris Lou Bertoli Wallace Fredrick Sofka
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Mayoral roundup nORTH FOREST ISD
School Board truStee, poSitioN 4 Tobie B. Ross, Jr. Thaddeus Seals truStee, poSitioN 5 Albert Coleman Loutrice Hicks
Trustees truStee, poSitioN 6 Deborah Jensen Glenn Evans Ron Crier Kristal Medina truStee, poSitioN 7 Gwen Robinson Karen Price-Jammer Jana Anders
HaRRIS cOUnTY IMPROVEMEnT DISTRIcT nO. 3
HOUSTOn ISD
propoSitioN 2 The issuance of bonds for road facilities and the levy of taxes and/or benefit assessments in payment of the bonds.
The HISD Board of Education is HISD’s governing body. The nine members of the board are elected from single geographic districts for staggered four-year terms with no term limits and serve without pay. truStee, diStrict i Linda Toyota Anna Eastman Alma Lara truStee, diStrict V Ray Reiner Mike Lunceford
alIEF ISD
KlEIn ISD
Trustees
Trustees
truStee, poSitioN 4 Tammi Lovetro Sturm Ella M. Jefferson
truStee, poSitioN 3 Marc William Margolis Jim Smith
WEST MEMORIal MUnIcIPal UTIlITY DISTRIcT
truStee, poSitioN 5 Grace Parmar Nghi T. Ho
truStee, poSitioN 4 Steve Szymczak
Bond authorization
truStee, poSitioN 6 Baltazar Gutierrez Jr. Sarah B. Winkler
truStee, poSitioN 5 Jean M. Casagrande Ronnie Anderson
Maintenance tax election
propoSitioN 1 The issuance of $13.7 million bonds and the levy of taxes in payment of the bonds to finance water, sewer, and drainage facilities.
Early voting is available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday and voters may go to any polling location.
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On Election Day, voters may go only to their assigned precinct.
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A UH Early Voting Shuttle will pick up at the UH Circle (across from the University Hilton) today
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Call (713) 755-6965 to locate your designated polling location or to report any instances of
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On Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Background information
I’m a proud University of Houston graduate, U.S. Army Veteran, third-generation Houstonian, small businessman and second-term City Council member. I built my small business into a successful national firm. I know how to make a business thrive and get results. I’ll use those skills to improve our city.
I have the broad experience necessary to be mayor. I have been involved in almost every major decision that has been made in this city over the past 20 years. I have worked on city issues as city attorney and a businessman, solving problems and helping to create thousands of jobs.
I’m a retired Lt. Col. (USAF). I have led the integration of billion dollar projects for the Department of Defense. I’m certified to manage billion dollar Department of Defense projects.
I graduated from Rice University. I worked in the oil and gas industry for 20 years. I was elected for three terms as an at-large City Council member. I have served as city controller for the last six years. There is no other candidate with my knowledge and experience.
Top three priorities
I want to make this city better by improving public safety, growing our economy and improving our quality of life with a streamlined city government.
The top three priorities in this race are public safety, job growth and improving Houston’s quality of life. We can’t be a great city unless we’re a safe city. We need to get more police on the streets and give our officers the best technology.
Creating jobs, cutting taxes and solving the City’s financial crisis
My priorities are fighting crime, creating jobs and increasing the quality of life. I am the only candidate with a plan to put more police on the street and a way to pay for it; I am the only one with a detailed “Hire Houston First” plan that will create good-paying jobs for Houstonians.
Economy
To keep Houston’s economy growing and attract new, good-paying jobs to the area we need to start with a clear vision and a commitment to keeping Houston business-friendly by keeping taxes low and streamlining regulations. My strategy will help grow existing businesses and attract new companies, top-level talent, and new, good-paying jobs.
The mayor needs to use every tool available to bring new jobs and businesses to Houston. Houston must remain a leader in job growth and business development. As mayor I will use incentives, and tax abatements to help new and existing businesses. Finally, we need to make U of H a Tier One institution.
I will recruit companies from around the world to come to our city and will ensure we retain our small businesses. I will transform Houston into a tax and business-friendly city again. I will provide property tax relief and limit unnecessary regulations that are obstacles to our businesses.
The downturn in the national and international economy is the biggest problem in retaining and attracting good jobs; that is why I have proposed a Hire Houston First policy, which will encourage the city to contract with local businesses that create local jobs. I also offer economic development incentives that are tied to measureable job creation goals.
Job creation
Houston’s dynamic business environment, technically educated workforce and existing competencies provide fertile ground for growth. Our core industries are energy, trade and commerce, health sciences and biotech, advanced technology, and aerospace and aviation and by taking a targeted approach we can build an economic core that supports many other industries and creates jobs.
To create jobs we need to continue to have a business friendly environment where entrepreneurs can leverage their ideas into new businesses. We need to take advantage of our economic engines, the Texas Medical Center, the Port of Houston and the energy corridor.
My plan of reducing taxes and limiting regulation will allow businesses to flourish and create jobs throughout our city, in all sectors, from blue-collar jobs to high tech jobs.
As a 20-year veteran of the oil and gas business, I know that Houston is the energy capital of the world; I want to make it the energy capital not just for oil and gas, but also for clean, alternative energy. And my Hire Houston First policy will ensure that jobs created by city projects go to local families first.
City deficit
After personally working to cut waste from city contracts I know how significant efficiencies and savings can be found with strong oversight, which is why I would make sure my department directors protect taxpayer dollars by finding more efficiencies, reducing waste and economizing.
The first task of the next mayor is to take a careful look at every dollar that the city is spending. I believe that we can find efficiencies in existing departments. Past that, we need to make sure that any cuts we make do not fall on any one neighborhood or department.
I will demand the $125 million that Metro owes the city to cover the budget gap. I will reduce the salaries of the executives including my salary. I will conduct effective and efficient audits. We will find and remove the fraud and waste. There will be no more shell games.
As city controller, I have conducted comprehensive performance audits of many city departments and programs. These reviews have identified millions of dollars in savings that have not yet been realized – so we have a good place to start. As mayor, I will make the changes necessary to see that that money is spent on priorities such as parks, libraries and police.
Crime
Keeping Houston safe will be my top priority. My “Get Tough, Get Smart” public safety blueprint calls for decentralized policing to bring public safety resources closer to the neighborhoods where they’re needed and ensuring policing strategies are tailored to each neighborhood. We need to put more police officers on the beat in neighborhoods instead of behind desks downtown.
The biggest public safety issue facing Houston is that more than half of our officers are at or near the age of retirement. We need to increase the number of officers on the street or we will face a public safety crisis.
We react to crime when we need to deter and prevent crime. I will implement a new strategy like they did in New York called “COMPSTAT.” Like the military we will have centralized planning and decentralized execution at the beat level. I will use technology wisely when needed. Technology is not the remedy for every situation.
We need more police officers on the street. I am the only candidate with a realistic plan to pay for adding police officers, without raising taxes. We can restore overtime dollars by reprogramming federal funds, better coordination with the dozens of law enforcement agencies in the area and fast track qualified, state-certified peace officers into HPD.
Improve air and water quality
I believe air quality is the biggest environmental issue facing Houston because it creates health problems and decreases the attractiveness of our city to potential businesses. I’ve worked alongside Mayor Bill White to reduce pollution by curbing benzene emissions, reducing congestion, and stopping illegal polluters. I’ll continue this progress as mayor.
We need to continue to improve our air and water quality or we risk our economic health. We need to work closely with our regional partners and with the state to ensure there is equal enforcement of all pollution violators.
I will use new fuel and engine products that reduce emissions by 9 percent and at the same time improve fuel efficiency up to 10 percent. I will promote the installation of wind turbines on our buildings. I will also promote moving people electronically not physically…telecommuting.
The city has recently begun investing in air monitoring devices so we can build a record of infractions ourselves and not have to ask or wait for the state agencies to act, and once we build a record of violations, we can proceed to litigation and enforcement if necessary.
Public transportation
To deal with traffic we’ve got to get the basics right: cut congestion, give residents real transportation choices and focus on getting people where they want to go. I support light rail, as well as other efforts to deal with traffic congestion. I’m disappointed with the lack of progress we’ve seen from Metro.
I believe that Houstonians need choices in transportation. We must do a better job moving people around the city. We need a great light rail system, a simple and an efficient bus system. We also need to reduce congestion on the roads with better park-and-rides and better HOV access.
Metro has not been transparent or accountable to the people. The 2003 referendum told the voters that the five light rail lines would cost $1.2 billion, but has tripled to $3.6 billion. I believe Metro needs to get back to its original mission of transportation and discontinue its current mission as a real estate developer.
I am committed to an integrated, multimodal transit system that includes everything from light rail to commuter rail, local buses, park & ride buses and bike lanes. I am a strong supporter of light rail, but I feel Metro has been less than transparent and accountable to the communities it serves.
Infrastructure
The city currently spends $50 million each year – distributed across many small projects – to combat flooding. But as recent flooding has shown, our current policies do little to address the major drainage issues. I’m proposing a full-scale plan for maintaining our drainage systems so that they don’t fail at the first sign of a thunderstorm.
We need to quickly repair our aging infrastructure. The longer we go without making a significant investment the more it will cost in the long run. We need to have a serious conversation with Houstonians about creating a dedicated fund that will be used to improve drainage, flooding and infrastructure.
We need more detention and retention ponds. I will catalog our entire infrastructure, i.e. location, age, total use, past maintenance, future maintenance costs, potential hazardous locations, replacement costs, etc. A risk analysis must be performed to ensure that current dollars are available for maintenance and future funding for new projects.
I believe drainage and flooding are public safety issues of the highest order; it is not okay to have water in your house. I am the only candidate with a detailed plan to improve the city’s infrastructure that explains how I plan to pay for it. We need to make a prioritized list of projects based on actual needs, not arbitrary political boundaries.
propoSitioN The levy of an ad valorem tax for operation and maintenance purposes in lieu of the tax currently authorized.
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from 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to the Palm Center at 5300 Griggs Rd.
City controller (2004-2009)
SOUTHWEST HaRRIS cOUnTY, MUnIcIPal UTIlITY DISTRIcT nO. 1
truStee, diStrict iX Michael (Cadillac) Williams Lawrence “Larry” Marshall Adrian Collins George Davis
annise Parker
Business owner (Durango Technologies) and Harris County Department of Education trustee
propoSitioN The issuance of $5.65 million bonds and the levy of ad valorem taxes.
propoSitioN, Spring Branch iSd The annexation of the following territory for junior college purposes: the territory within all of the Spring Branch Independent School District.
Roy Morales
Partner, Andrews Kurth LLP
HaRRIS cOUnTY MUnIcIPal UTIlITY DISTRIcT nO. 127
Bond election
Gene locke
City council member, businessman, architect, urban planner
Bond election propoSitioN 1 The issuance of bonds for economic development programs and facilities and the levy of taxes and/or benefit assessments in payment of the bonds.
Peter Brown
Occupation
SPRInG ISD
truStee, poSitioN 4 Willie Wright Lida Woodul Scott J. Adams
Board of Education
Information compiled by Mildred Scott and Salomon Fuentes and coordinated by Zoa Khan.
For additional information, visit the League of Women Voters Web site at www.lwvhouston.org.
Information contained in this voter’s guide was compiled from the actual ballot and individual mayoral candidate responses. The League of Women Voters provided the descriptions of each office.
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