All eleven State Constitutional Amendments passed. [See stories, House Research Organization: Analysis on Nov 3rd TX Constitutional Propositions, Where to Vote in the Upcoming Texas Election, and Empower Texans: Recommendations on Nov 3rd TX Constitutional Propositions, below, for related articles and actual text of proposed State Constitutional Amendments.]
Election results for Houston-area
Annise Parker and Gene Locke will be in a runoff for City of Houston Mayor. Ronald C. Green and M. J. Khan will be a in a runoff for City of Houston Comptroller. Check for other City of Houston City Council positions.
Harris County elections results.
Brazoria County election results.
Chambers County election results.
In addition to the Empower Texans’ recommendations of the Texas State Constitutional Amendments, here is another analysis by The House Research Organization, a non-partisan source of impartial information on legislation and issues considered by the Texas Legislature. The HRO is an independent administrative department of the Texas House of Representatives. It is governed by a broadly representative steering committee of 15 House members elected by the House membership to set policy for the organization, approve its budget, and ensure that its reports are objective.
The HRO’s analysis has a bit more background and gives pros and cons of each amendment as well as actual text of the amendments, so that you may make informed decisions when you vote.
You can early vote between Monday, October 19th and Friday, October 30th. Early voting will be held:
(Mon) October 19 – (Fri) October 23 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
(Sat) October 24 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
(Sun) October 25 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
(Mon) October 26 – (Fri) October 30 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Locate your early voting location here. However, please note that on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, you may only vote at your specific precinct location, (Harris County resident only on immediately preceding link).
[Original article & photo from Houston * Banner, Near Northwest/Montrose-Westheimer/
Midtown/Downtown Edition, August 2009 edition]
Richard Ford pickets Appraisal District Office
Richard Ford never expected to be walking a picket line at the Harris County Appraisal District office. The retired Houston firefighter owns a number of properties’, and like many property owners he protested his property tax appraisal.
One of his properties, he says, was appraised nearly $60,000.00 more in value so he felt it necessary to protest the increases. He had done the research on his properties and was anxious to talk to the review board about them. He expected to be able to have a hearing for each one of his properties. Read the rest of this entry »
Today marks a great success for Cy-Fair ISD homeowners. Members Jason Jez, Lynda Krueger, Helena Brown, Dr Tim Brown, and Cesar Brown attended the Cy-Fair county Board of Trustees executive meeting to oppose tapping into Cy-Fair ISD’s ”sacred” 20% Homestead exemption.
Residents of Cy-Fair enjoy, among many things, a coveted 20% homestead exemption allowing* homeowners to keep more of their money. However, Cy-Fair ISD has been experiencing major budgetary shortfalls and a consideration was made to tap into the exemption in order to cover the cost.
HALC members Cesar Brown, Dr. Tim Brown and Jason Jez all spoke against the proposition pointing out the rising economic burdens already imposed upon Texans. Ultimately, the proposition was voted down by the executive committee and the Homestead exemption was kept in place.
Below is the video story as run by Fox affiliate 26 News. You can see Jason Jez at 0:25!
See the full Fox 26 story here.
You can also watch the full board meeting here: http://www.cfisd.net/movies/sbm062509/sbm062509_agenda.htm
Or just the citizen participation portion: http://www.cfisd.net/movies/sbm062509/sbm062509_citizen.htm
* As one speaker pointed out, these homeowners aren’t “allowed” to keep their money, it’s theirs by right and it is they who allow the government to use it. HALC couldn’t agree more.