State, local elections set for Nov. 6

EAST HARRIS COUNTY—On Nov. 6 voters will go to the polls to decides issues of state and local importance. Due to change made during the last State Legislative Session school trustee elections were moved from May to November so that they could share ballots with other elected offices as well as proposition elections.
State Constitution
Among the issues facing voters this year are changes to the Texas Constitution. Sixteen proposed amendments are going before voters. The four that have gotten a large share of the attention are Props. 4, 12, 15 and 16. Prop. 4 calls for funding for Department of Public Safety crime labs. Prop. 12 would raise $5 billion in state highway bonds, Prop. 15 would allow for the creation of a $3 billion Texas Cancer Research Center and Prop. 16 would raise funds for water and sewage projects in low-income areas such as Northeast Houston.
Harris County
The Harris County Commissioners Court is asking voters to approve $800 million in bonds. The money would then be split between the four county precincts with each commissioner using their funds as they see needs within their district.

Aldine ISD
Aldine ISD will hold a school board election for Positions 1, 2, 6 and 7.
Marine Jones holds the Position 1 seat. Joe Nailor will join Jones in the Position 1 race. Dr. Alton Smith holds the Position 2 seat. He is unopposed in the Position 2 race. Merlin Griggs holds the Position 6 seat. Art Murillo will join Griggs in the Position 6 race. Dr. Viola M. Garcia holds the Position 7 seat. Raul Garza will join her in the Position 7 race.
North Forest ISD
Two incumbents and nine challengers make up the field of candidates vying for three seats on the North Forest ISD Board of Trustees in the November election.
Both Trustee Silvia Brooks-Williams, who was appointed by the board in 2006 to fill the unexpired term of former Trustee Jarvis Clark and Board Vice-President Allen Provost filed to run in the Position I and Position 6 races, respectively. Veteran Trustee Maxine-Lane Seals, who has served on the North Forest ISD Board of Trustees for a total of 19 years did not seek reelection.
Albert Coleman and Gary Pratt will challenge Brooks-Williams, 64.
Henrietta Cage and Jackie Mayhorn, 47, who works as a change manager in information technology, will face Provost for Position 6.
Without an incumbent in the Position 7 race, five challengers have filed to run for the seat.
They are Roy ‘Rabbit” Grant, Loutrice Hicks-Holmes, Willie Hunter, Albert Lemmons, 62 and Paula Sharon Settles.
Each member of the seven-member board of trustees is elected to serve a three-year staggered term without compensation.
Houston ISD
The Houston ISD will seek voter approval $805 million in bonds. The lion’s share of the bonds, estimated at $383 million, will go to build 24 new campuses. The district also plans expansion and renovations at 136 campuses while another $90.3 million will be spend on security upgrades at every campus. Upgrades are also planned at Barnett, Butler and Delmar Stadiums.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The trustee election is being held in conjunction with the City of Houston elections.