By George Slaughter
The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will host a virtual candidate forum for Katy Independent School District Board of Trustee candidates at 5:30 p.m. tonight. The forum will be streamed on the chamber’s Facebook page.
The Position 6 and Position 7 seats are being contested this year. All candidates are expected to attend the forum.
Position 6 candidates include incumbent Susan Gesoff, an engineer, who is seeking her second term after being elected in 2019.
She has drawn four opponents. One of them, Rebecca Fox, is a former trustee. The three other Position 6 candidates are Bonnie Anderson, an assessor quality management analyst; William X. Branch, a truck driver, and Garima DGupta, a teacher.
Joe Wojcik, a security investigator and adjunct college professor, had filed to run for the seat but withdrew his candidacy, reportedly in objection to social media postings involving the Position 7 race. His name will still appear on the ballot, however.
Position 7 candidates include incumbent Dawn Champagne, who works in retail sales, and Walter Butler, who also works in sales.
The chamber hosted a forum for Katy City Council candidates Wednesday. Ward A candidates Dan Smith, a territory senior manager, and Diane Walker, a virtual assistant, spoke. Ward B candidate Gina Hicks, a cybersecurity professional, also spoke. Ward B incumbent and candidate Jenifer Jordan Stockdick, a business owner, cancelled her appearance due to a reaction from receiving her second coronavirus vaccination shot.
To see a replay of the council candidate forum, visit the chamber’s Facebook page.