Forward Times is providing you with the results of the November 2023 election
Drumroll please……. the November 2023 election has concluded, and the Forward Times is providing you with results you have been anxiously awaiting.
Here are the results of the 2023 City of Houston races and surrounding areas, as well as the State of Texas Constitutional amendments:
HOUSTON MAYOR RACE
As Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s second and final term concludes at the end of the year due to term-limits, the result is: U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (36%) and John Whitmire (43%) are top two vote getters and will face off against each other in December runoff election for open seat
HOUSTON CITY CONTROLLER RACE
As Houston City Controller Chris Brown’s second and final term ends at the end of the year due to term-limits, the result is: Chris Hollins (45%) and Orlando Sanchez (27%) are top two vote getters and will face off against each other in December runoff election for open seat
HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE RACES
The results of the City Council At-Large races are:
- At-Large, Position 1: Melanie Miles (25%) and Julian Ramirez (25%) are top two vote getters and will face off against each other in December runoff election for open seat
- At-Large, Position 2: Willie Davis (32%) and Nick Hellyar (23%) are top two vote getters and will face off against each other in December runoff election for open seat
- At-Large, Position 3: Richard Cantu (22%) and Twila Carter (21%) are top two vote getters and will face off against each other in December runoff election for open seat
- At-Large, Position 4: Letitia Plummer (48%) and Roy Morales (33%) are top two vote getters and will face off against each other in December runoff election
- At-Large, Position 5: Incumbent Council Member Sallie Alcorn (60%) wins second te
HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT RACES
The results of the City Council District races are:
- District A: Incumbent Council Member Amy Peck (100%) was unopposed and wins second term
- District B: Incumbent Council Member Tarsha Jackson (63%) wins second term
- District C: Incumbent Council Member Abbie Kamin (73%) wins second term
- District D: Incumbent Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz (49%) and Travis McGee (17%) are top two vote getters and will face off against each other in December runoff election
- District E: Fred Flickinger (57%) wins open seat
- District F: Incumbent Council Member Tiffany Thomas (100%) was unopposed and wins second term
- District G: Incumbent Council Member Mary Nan Huffman (49%) and Tony Buzbee (41%) are top two vote getters and will face off against each other in December runoff election
- District H: Mario Castillo (46%) and Cynthia Reyes Revilla (25%) are top two vote getters and will face off against each other in December runoff election for open seat
- District I: Joaquin Martinez (59%) wins open seat
- District J: Incumbent Council Member Edward Pollard (63%) wins second term
- District K: Incumbent Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum (100%) was unopposed and wins second term
LOCAL BALLOT INITIATIVES
- Harris County Hospital District, Proposition A: (PASSED | 72%)
- City of Houston, Proposition A: (PASSED | 83%)
- City of Houston, Proposition B: (PASSED | 65%)
STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES
- Proposition 1: Voters decided whether Texans should have the right to farm, ranch, and garden on property they own. (PASSED | 79%)
- Proposition 2: Voters decided whether cities and counties should be allowed to give property tax breaks to child-care businesses. (PASSED | 65%)
- Proposition 3: Voters decided whether to prevent any future lawmakers from imposing a “wealth tax” on Texas residents without voter consent. (PASSED | 68%)
- Proposition 4: Voters decided whether to raise the school homestead exemption in Texas and reduce the amount that Texas homeowners can take off the taxable value of their primary residence for school property taxes from $40,000 to $100,000. The proposition will also put a temporary cap on the appraisal growth on residential properties and small businesses that do not have homestead exemptions, such as second homes and rental properties, from year-to-year. Lastly, it will create new elected positions on appraisal boards in Texas counties with a population of 75,000 or more. (PASSED | 83%)
- Proposition 5: Voters decided whether to send up to $100 million in interest, dividends, and other investment earnings every year from the state’s rainy-day fund to the Texas University Fund to help support research at state universities. (PASSED | 66%)
- Proposition 6: Voters decided whether to approve the creation of the Texas Water Fund, which would receive $1 billion to begin updating pipe systems and developing new water sources. (PASSED | 78%)
- Proposition 7: Voters decided whether to authorize the creation of a Texas Energy Fund, which will receive $5 billion to help officials to distribute loans and grants to companies with the aim of building new natural gas-fueled power plants. (PASSED | 65%)
- Proposition 8: Voters decided whether to create the Broadband Infrastructure Fund to expand Internet and broadband access across Texas. (PASSED | 69%)
- Proposition 9: Voters decided whether to allow $3.3 billion from the general revenue fund to be moved to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas to provide some retired Texas teachers with cost-of-living raises to their monthly pension checks. (PASSED | 84%)
- Proposition 10: Voters decided whether to give a property tax break to biomedical companies by exempting the value of any equipment used to manufacture personal protective equipment, pharmaceuticals, or other medical devices. (PASSED | 55%)
- Proposition 11: Although it doesn’t affect Houston-area voters directly, this proposition asked Texas voters to decide whether to give conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County the power to issue bonds to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities. (PASSED | 63%)
- Proposition 12: Although it doesn’t affect Houston-area voters directly, this proposition will be asking Texas voters (in Galveston County only) decided whether to abolish the office of Galveston County treasurer and instead authorize the Commissioners Court to hire or contract with someone to do the job. (PASSED | 53%)
- Proposition 13: Voters decided whether to raise the mandatory retirement age for Texas state judges from 75 years of age to 79. (REJECTED | 63%)
- Proposition 14: Voters will decide whether to establish a Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, which would receive $1 billion to purchase land for new state parks and improve existing state parks. (PASSED | 77%)
Other items on the November ballot that may impact some of you include:
ALDINE ISD BOND ELECTION
- Proposition A: New School Buildings and Sites (PASSED | 68%)
- Proposition B: District Technology Equipment (PASSED | 65%)
- Proposition C: Arts and Events Center (PASSED | 55%)
CITY OF JERSEY VILLAGE BOND ELECTION
Proposition A: $19 million for a pool and parks improvements (REJECTED | 59%)
Proposition B: $15.86 million for water, sewer, and drainage (PASSED | 55%)
Proposition C: $18 million for streets, roads, and bridges (PASSED | 51%)
CLEAR CREEK ISD BOND ELECTION AND TAX RATE RAISE
- Propositon A: Tax rate raise to 0.9746 per $100 in property value (PASSED | 59%)
- Proposition B: $265 million for school infrastructure and safety (PASSED | 55%)
- Proposition C: $37 million for technology equipment and instructional tech (PASSED | 54%)
CONROE ISD BOND ELECTION
- Proposition A: $1.82 billion for eight new schools (PASSED | 61%)
- Proposition B: $40 million for technology devices (PASSED | 58%)
- Proposition C: $112.9 million for PE and ag barn improvements (PASSED | 59%)
- Proposition D: $22.9 million for pool revamp/natatorium (REJECTED | 51%)
CROSBY ISD BOND ELECTION
- Proposition A: School Facilities (REJECTED | 65%)
FORT BEND COUNTY BOND ELECTION
- Proposition A: $712.6 million for mobility (PASSED | 64%)
- Proposition B: $153 million for parks (PASSED | 52%)
FORT BEND ISD TAX RATE ELECTION
- Proposition A: Raise tax rate to 98.92 cents per $100 in property value (PASSED | 57%)
KATY ISD BOND ELECTION
- Proposition A: $723 million for new schools, renovations, security upgrades (PASSED | 59%)
- Proposition B: $83.6 million for technology (PASSED | 57%)
- Proposition C: $4 million for natatoriums (REJECTED | 54%)
- Proposition D: $30 million for athletic facilities (REJECTED | 56%)
LAMAR CISD BOND ELECTION
- Proposition A: $15M Traylor Stadium bonds (REJECTED | 55%)
PEARLAND ISD TAX RATE ELECTION
- Proposition A: Change tax rate to $1.1373 per $100 in property value (PASSED | 57%)
STAFFORD MSD TAX RATE ELECTION
Proposition A: Change tax rate (PASSED | 56%)