By Charlotte Aguilar
Weeks of heated, sometimes partisan campaigning in the city of Bellaire and the local school trustee races have finally led to Election Day Tuesday (Nov. 2), with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. — and the distinct possibility of runoffs in two three-candidate contests.
In Bellaire, election season has been civil among the candidates but downright unneighborly among many of their supporters on social media platforms and in advertising and door hangers. Among the unusual activity: A political action committee, SafeBellaire — which formed during the hotly contested sidewalk charter election two years ago — has become involved on one side, with the mayor and two incumbent councilmembers making endorsements and actively campaigning for opposing slates of candidates.
The Bellaire mayor’s election is a done deal, with incumbent Andrew Friedberg running unopposed for his fourth two-year term in Bellaire, but three City Council positions are up for grabs, with no incumbents on the ballot.
Friedberg has endorsed Position 1 candidate Winfred “Win” Frazier, a former Planning & Zoning Commission chairman; Position 3 hopeful Ross Gordon, current P&Z chair; and Position 5 candidate Brian Witt, who serves on the city’s Environmental Sustainability Board — and Frazier, Gordon and Witt are, in effect, running as a slate.
While Kevin Newman, running for Position 1, and David Montalvo, seeking Position 5, are running independent campaigns, Position 3 candidate Javier Vega and Position 5 candidate Andrea Ehlers have joined together to share resources, forming another slate.
The Houston ISD District V trustee race — supposedly nonpartisan — also has three candidates, with party politics creeping into one campaign and a local PTO being made to appear to endorse a candidate and controversial positions.
Incumbent Sue Deigaard is seeking a second term on the HISD board representing West U, Bellaire and southwest Houston. She is opposed by Bellaire educator Maria Benzon and self-proclaimed “West U mom” Caroline Walter, who is supported by multiple Republican organizations, including the Harris County Republican Party — and whose campaign signs are frequently posted with “anti-vax” and “anti-mask” signs.
Walter accepted the GOP endorsements but says the signs don’t necessarily reflect her views.
On Monday, the West University Elementary School PTO took the unusual step of issuing a a statement asserting its nonpartisan status in the election after learning of “emails circulating regarding the upcoming election and HISD policies that appear to be affiliated with West U Elementary School.”
“While it may appear that the school and/or PTO are affiliated with these emails, we are not,” wrote PTO President Robyn Goldstein.
Here is your Essentials guide to voting.
ELECTION DAY
Voters can cast their ballots 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday at any polling place in Harris County, which can be located through HarrisVotes.com.
Bellaire/West University area locations include:
Bellaire Civic Center, Pin Oak Middle School, Houston Community College West Loop, Faith Lutheran Church, Lovett Elementary School, West University City Hall, West University Elementary School, Southside Place Park Clubhouse, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Pershing Middle School, Lamar High School, Courtyard by Marriott West University (on Westpark Drive).
CANDIDATE RESEARCH
All seven Bellaire City Council candidates’ views were shared in our extensive candidates’ questionnaire, which first appeared in the September issue of Bellaire-West University Essentials magazine. You can also view a YouTube video of the nonpartisan candidates’ forum, held Oct. 12 at Faith Lutheran Church.
HISD trustee candidates’ biographical information and their responses to a questionnaire are accessible through the nonpartisan League of Women Voters guide to the election (which also includes information on eight state constitutional ballot measures).
ELECTION INFORMATION
The most comprehensive source of election information is Harris Votes, maintained by the Elections Division of the Harris County Clerk’s Office. You can download a sample ballot, find out polling places and hours closest to your home or workplace, and learn procedures and requirements to vote. That includes instructions and a video on Harris County’s new VerityDuo voting machine.
The county also publishes election returns on the site after polls close.
We will be providing results on this website in the Bellaire council and HISD trustee races as soon as they become available following the 7 p.m. end of voting.
Facebook Comments