The bond issue has done a great job of analyzing the district's needs. This group has gotten along well and not become bogged down in such a momentous task. In prior years, the bond committee was somewhat more controversial. First, there were more than 200 people involved. Many citizens complained to me that the district had stacked the deck and filled the subcommittee with district employees. Citizens felt the employees would bias the reports and that it was a sneaky way for the district to get their way. It is very hard for the district not to have opinions here and those employees are the ones who walk the hallways, deal with the lights, lockers and parking spaces on a daily basis. This committee seems to have managed to meet and make their reports with no self serving motives. In prior years, politicians sprang from this group. Lots of folks decided the bond committee would make a good start in a run for the school board. It was messy. And of course, the entire process was a divisive issue with many people demanding four high schools and others demanding that things stayed the same - in Kingwood, at least. Factions held protest barbecues - really - and longtime community leaders found themselves on different sides. The letters to the editor just poured in! Looking back, I would say that the eventual bond passage created good change. Change that in many cases was years too late. Looking at KHS, that school needed renovation years ago. But previous adminstrators and board members did not want to ask for more money from taxpayers or did not want to have change and they let things get so bad, this board had no choice but to spend millions. Best to keep the maintenance up as we go along. The new bond will be for $303 million. That is a pittance in today's dollars. With the state cutting and cutting, it is a bit scary to think we can get by on this.

Wow - tell me what you think - those of you who got that NASTY, incredibly desperate, negative, mud slinging invective from that what-seemed-to-be-so-nice Annette Dwyer? O-mi-gosh - what a mean little tart she has turned out to be!!!!

I've been covering local politics for more than 12 years and I've seen some pretty low down dirty rascals out there. I've seen a man named "Kenny Rogers" run against Ron Hickman and drag Ron into a runoff on his "name "recognition" alone. I've seen completely misguided folks support Eugene Fontenot over Kevin Brady because Fontenot said he was the "Christian" ultra conservative candidate. I learned my lesson when we endorsed one candidate for state senator but I offered an olive branch to his competitor saying something like "in any other race, we'd endorse Bill whatever his name was" because he had good qualities, blah blah blah. Imagine my surprise when his campaign manager Chad Cantella lifted those words, attributed them to me and put them on a mailer!!!
So, I've been around. But nothing compares to what arrived in our mailbox yesterday. A big, black, red and white card absolutely SLAMMING Mike Sullivan, candidate for Houston City Council. It is really bad and anyone who supports that wretch after this really needs to ask themselves what kind of rep they want on city council - a weasely old witch? Gosh - even Hilliary Clinton isn't this mean spirited.
In the tiniest font possible, little miss weasel tries to dodge responsibility for her actions by printing "pol. ad pd for by Annette Dwyer Campaign."
So, in honor of Dwyer, here are some lyrics just for her - from the Eagles' Desperado:

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin you
Can hurt you somehow

Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get

Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone

First - this just in! There is an auction of items from Humble ISD. Go to: https://www.lemonsauctioneers.com/

Now - about that traffic! It is really frustrating. Ever since West Lake Houston Parkway opened thru to the Beltway, thousands of cars are using that for north-south traveling instead of Hwy. 59. All along WLHP, there are cut throughs and very busy corners with nary a traffic light in sight. I can see many terrible accidents in our future as cars increase and drivers get more daring.
PLEASE Commissioner Eversole! Can you PLEASE synchronize the lights along WLHP? If Bill White can get the lights synchronized in downtown Houston, the fourth largest city in the world, then surely you do the same on WLHP. the intersection at 1960 must be analyzed. The light changes so quickly that many drivers chance it and try to make it across. Dangerous. And frustrating!!! Lastly - to all those candidates from Houston. Please come get your campaign signs!I don't know how you do things downtown, but out here, we see those signs as an indicator of what kind of elected official you will be. One that puts trash out! One who has a disregard for the residents. One who is self serving above all else. One who is forgetful. So - if it starts with Jack and ends with Christie - then we're talking about you!

One of the best things about being a newspaper editor has been the opportunity to know all the great people, events and efforts of our community. Maybe other communities are as wonderful as ours, I don't know. But here, we have some really, truly special people working to make things better here and all over this world of ours. A long time ago, I began writing about HAAM, or the Humble Area Assistance Ministries. What they do there is impressive to me since they do it without government funds and they don't just hand out dollar bills and loaves of bread, they really change lives. The sheer magnitude of their school supply, Thanksgiving and Christmas projects is overwhelming. HAAM has a great thrift shop that provides funding for their operations but HAAM relies heavily on donors for the crayons, pencils, cans of green beans and Christmas toys they give away. HAAM serves only nine local Zip codes. They individualize their assistance. They carefully count noses and ages of each family member - determine what they need - whether it be electricity for a month or two, help finding a job, prescription medicine or simply toys for the children at Christmas. I remember over the years, the stories of panic felt at HAAM as Thanksgiving rushes in, food is dispersed and the very next second, the huge need for toys is felt. They want to give each child two toys and they want them to "fit." Age and gender appropriate toys are carefully chosen. But each year, the need is felt at HAAM before the community feels it. By the time Sunday school classes and school groups choose to collect toys, HAAM folks have already started using precious donated funds to buy toys. They just don't want anyone to get left out. I wish HAAM could be the clearing house for all needy children in our area - there seems to be so many conflicting demands - this or that small group is collecting for this or that need. HAAM screens all their clients and coordinates with other agencies. Doesn't it make sense for them to be the big coordinator? That might be too big of a wish for Santa to grant to me but I definitely hope that all groups in the community will choose HAAM as their charity and please don't wait! If you wish to help, drop toys off at Homewood Suites where the very generous Philippe Cras gives breakfast or overnight stays in exchange for toy donations to HAAM. Happy Thanksgiving!

Why is it human nature can be so critical? Reams of research and psychoanalysis explains those who just have to criticize as low in self confidence, wanting attention and other rationales. When it comes to elections, it does seem that sometimes the worst in folks comes out. In politics, there are no holds barred. We wonder why our country is in the shape it is? Most of the time, our saner folks would never dream of exposing themselves or their families to the mean spirited attacks by the media and the public.
We are fortunate to have had some outstanding individuals run for office in our community - and for the most part, the jobs aren't even paid! I know it sounds corny but how about a community effort to let peace begin with us? Let's applaud the folks who are brave enough to step forward and put their name in the hate. No one, no one is perfect. We are human beings, filled with frailties. Support our own, defend those not present and life will be more enjoyable. Well, I'm off the soap box now.

District E Race - Wil Williams, who had a nice showing of more than 1,000 votes in his first try for office, has thrown his support for Mike Sullivan. That is a nice boost. Sullivan told me he visited with Williams on the phone Election Night and urged him to help make the community better. Williams has done so! Look for more coverage on these two. Addie Wiseman told several community members recently she was 'surprised" Annette Dwyer is giving speeches saying she has Addie's support. Addie has been supporting Dwyer and now that she sees the writing on the wall - Sullivan will win - she is switching gears to back into Sullivan's camp. I heard Addie has something lined up for 2008 and it isn't politics. More on that later.
Diane Trautman announced she is running against Joe Crabb again. Trautman said she spent a lot of money this fall polling voters to see how much support she has. The polling must have gone well as she decided - at the last moment she said - to announce her intentions at her latest Town Hall Meeting. It is still early - I have no pulse on this race except to say Crabb has proven to be unbeatable. So Diane will be pushing a big, heavy rock up a steep hill - no matter what the polls say!

Aimee Bertrand, contrary to yesterday's post, is not with Wiseman's office. She wrote to say," I left Council Member Wiseman’s office in February to take a position with the Houston Apartment Association. I was there on their behalf on Tuesday, since our PAC endorsed Mike Sullivan."
Beautiful Aimee is also engaged to Rick Arrington of Calvert Mortgage (no relation) - they are getting married in early 2008 in Los Cabos. Her parents, Ginger and Byron Bertrand, are longtime Kingwood residents and have been involved in nearly every community event. Great family!
Sorry Aimee!

I left Council Member Wiseman’s office in February to take a position with the Houston Apartment Association. I was there on their behalf on Tuesday, since our PAC endorsed Mike Sullivan.

It was a nice time hanging out with the Sullivan crowd on Election Night. The gang started coming in at 7 pm over at Homewood Suites where three TV sets were turned on. The earliest tally was mail-in and early votes. Sullivan had that and never let go of his lead all night. Gradually more and more folks came in - Jessica and Court Wellington (she of Ted Poe's office), Patti Chapman (formerly of Poe's office), Aimee Bertrand of Addie Wiseman's office (Addie was nowhere in sight but she has been supporting the Clear Lake candidate Dwyer all along), Dan Huberty, Jim Harding, Dave Martin, Kim and Paige of course, Devon Alexander, Bruce Ward, Skippy Lupton - and a bunch of other folks. By 9 p.m., the numbers were even better and by 10 - it was obvious that Sullivan was top dog. Annette Dwyer of Clear Lake came in second. Williams called to congratulate Sullivan as did Mehta.
What is with some folks in the city? Do they just wake up one morning and think - damn - I'm running for office! So many people want to be heard, to be important - to matter.
Now - in runoffs, it is not a matter of getting new people to come vote. It is a matter of getting those voters back to vote again. another round of walking, calling, etc. No wonder most people don't run for office.

Are Kingwood folks going to vote? Why does it seem like no one is much interested in who our next council member will be? We haven't even had the usual sniping about election signs being stolen although I did hear from one candidate that their signs were being covered from view when a volunteer moved an opponent's signs right in front of all the signs.
By Monday, only about 750 folks had taken advantage of early voting. They switched it to the Kingwood Library this year - not the fire station. I gathered up a handful of voting apps and distributed them to my journalism class at the college. More than half had never registered before. That age group are probably not going to be "R's" anytime soon and they chatter about the candidates on YouTube. The election will probably go to a runoff, to no one's surprise and it will probably come down to Sullivan/Dwyer.
Kingwood is going to be kicking themselves if she wins. It will be due to laziness if that happens. For goodness sakes, all you have to do is show your drivers license. It takes less than 10 minutes.