Voters okay Lone Star College System bond measure, elect trustees

A $420 million bond referendum to build new facilities and infrastructure for fast-growing Lone Star College System sailed to victory Saturday night by a 62-38% margin.
At the same time, Pos. 3 incumbent Stephanie Marquard and Pos. 9 incumbent Priscilla Kelly were re-elected to new six-year terms on the college’s board of trustees. Pos. 6 incumbent Alan Quintero, appointed to complete an unexpired term, was defeated by challenger Bob Wolfe. Robert J. Adam was elected to fill the Pos. 4 seat vacated by trustee John Fox, who did not seek re-election.
Final unofficial tallies showed the bond proposal passing in every segment of the community college district with 13,574 votes for to 8,232 against. The district is comprised by 11 independent school districts: Aldine, Conroe, CyFair, Humble, Kingwood, Klein, New Caney, Splendora, Spring, Tomball, and Willis. The proposition drew 21,806 voters.

“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this election,” said LSCS Chancellor Dr. Richard Carpenter. “We got our message out, and residents responded.”
“We are greatly appreciative of the confidence voters have placed in us,” Dr. Carpenter said. “We will move aggressively to fulfill the promises we have made to the community, and look forward to meeting the needs of the students we serve.”
Lone Star College System enrolled 49,263 students in credit courses last fall, and is adding about 5,000 new students every 24 months. At the current rate of growth, the system anticipates more than 72,000 students by 2015. College officials have said that the system’s five college are at or beyond total capacity as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Trustees elected
According to final but unofficial tallies in the trustee election, Pos. 3 incumbent Marquard received 5,165 votes to 3,798 for Fred Blanton, 3,485 for Jerry Albrecht, and 1,897 for Robert Gandy.
In Position 4, Adam defeated Terry Morton, 6,716 to 6,368.
Wolfe was victorious in Pos. 6 with 4,942 votes, Jason Roper with 4,642, and Quintero with 3,834.
In Position 9, incumbent Priscilla Kelly won with 3,839 votes, followed by Joe Williams with 2,806, Diane Porter with 2,742, Gail Stanart with 2,264, and Jean Iverson with 1,901.
Trustees are elected by a plurality of votes cast; there is no run-off election.