By George Slaughter Katy Independent School District voters re-elected two school board trustees Saturday while also approving a $676 million bond. The board will meet May 12 to canvass the returns. In the Position 6 race, motivational speaker and former trustee Rebecca Fox defeated incumbent Susan Gesoff and three other challengers to win re-election to the board. Fox previously served in the Position 2 seat from 2004-2019. She sought the Position 1 seat that year, […]
Bond Election
Smith, Hicks Elected to Katy City Council
By George Slaughter Katy city voters braved the rain Saturday to elect two new city council members, approve $6 million in bonds, and approve updates to the Katy City Charter. In the Ward A council race, Dan Smith, a territory senior manager, defeated Diane Walker, who works as a virtual assistant. Smith received 446 votes, or 72%. Walker received 172 votes, or 18%. “I am humbled by the results of the election and excited for […]
Absentee Voting Begins for City, School Board Elections
By George Slaughter Absentee balloting began Monday for races and bond elections in both the City of Katy and the Katy Independent School District. Election Day is May 1, but the city and school elections have different end dates for absentee balloting. City of Katy Two seats on the city council, a $6 million bond issue, and updates to the Katy City Charter, are on the ballot. In the Ward A council race, incumbent Dusty […]
Eight Candidates File for Katy ISD School Board Seats
By George Slaughter Katy Independent School District voters will decide who will serve on two trustee positions, as well as a proposed $676 million bond. Term of office for trustees is three years. Election Day is May 1. Position 6 Incumbent Susan Gesoff, an engineer, has filed for reelection. She was elected in 2018. Gesoff has drawn five opponents, one of whom, Rebecca Fox, is a former trustee. Fox served in the Position 2 seat […]
School Trustees Approve Bond Proposal for Placement on Ballot
By George Slaughter Katy school trustees Monday approved a $676 million school bond proposal for voter consideration in the May election. The proposal is broken into four separate propositions, which are: Proposition A: New schools, purchase of school sites, renovations and expansions for aging campuses, safety and security, buses, and building component replacements, for $591,368,568. Proposition B: Classroom and campus technology, for $59,755,242. Proposition C: A natatorium for High School #10, so as to be […]
Katy ISD Seeks 2021 Bond to Address Growth
By George Slaughter The Katy Independent School District will be seeking a bond package to put before voters in the May 2021 election, and the committee that will decide what goes into that proposal will soon be considering the options. Proceeding with a bond package proposal comes as the district’s student population continues to grow. The district has more than 84,000 students at 71 campuses, and projects to have an enrollment of more than 100,000 […]
Former Katy Mayor Shares Highlights of METRO Plan to Improve Service
By George Slaughter Katy residents in Harris County and in part of Fort Bend County are being asked to consider supporting a $3.5 billion METRO-sponsored bond issue designed to improve public transportation. Former Katy Mayor Don Elder, who now serves on the METRO board of directors, shared plan highlights at the Katy Business Association luncheon, held Wednesday afternoon at La Estancia Italian Restaurant, 5361 E. 5th St. The need for improving, and in some cases expanding, […]
Harris County Voters to Decide $2.5 Billion Flood-Risk Bond Issue
By George Slaughter Hurricane Harvey made its mark on Harris County and Southeast Texas last year. Later this month, county voters will decide on a $2.5 billion bond package focused on flood-risk reduction projects. Katy-area residents learned about the proposal at a public information meeting held at Memorial Parkway Junior High School, 21203 Highland Knolls. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said that the hurricane caused approximately 160,000 flooded homes, in addition to businesses and schools. […]
Dowdle Re-Elected to Katy City Council; Corte, Harris Elected
By George Slaughter Katy Ward B Council Member Durran Dowdle was re-elected to his post Saturday, while challengers Chris Harris and Janet Corte won their respective races for council member at-large and Ward A council member, respectively. Dowdle was re-elected to his third and final term under term limits. Harris and Corte were making their first bids for public office. The trio will take their oaths of office later this month. Ward B Dowdle drew […]
City Voters to Consider Bond Propositions on Ballot
By George Slaughter Following the 2016 Tax Day Flood and Hurricane Harvey last year, officials at all levels of government have been working on flood preventative issues for the Katy and Southeast Texas areas. The proposed Cypress Creek reservoir, for instance, is being addressed at the federal level. But for the City of Katy, Mayor Chuck Brawner said it was important that local officials focus on what they can do locally. “It’s important for us […]