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 […]
katy city election
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 […]
Katy Area Chamber of Commerce Hosting City, School Board Candidate Forums
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 […]
Meet the Katy City Council Candidates: Gina Hicks
By George Slaughter Gina Hicks, a cybersecurity professional, is seeking a Ward B seat on the Katy City Council. She faces incumbent Jenifer Jordan Stockdick, a business owner, who was elected in 2019. In addition to the council race, voters will decide whether to approve a $6 million bond proposal. The proposal has two propositions: Proposition A, for $1.8 million, is for construction of improvements to municipal public buildings. These include reimbursement of expenses for […]
Meet the Katy City Council Candidates: Jenifer Jordan Stockdick
By George Slaughter Jenifer Jordan Stockdick, a business owner, is seeking re-election to her Ward B seat on the Katy City Council. She faces Gina Hicks, a cybersecurity professional, In addition to the council race, voters will decide whether to approve a $6 million bond proposal. The proposal has two propositions: Proposition A, for $1.8 million, is for construction of improvements to municipal public buildings. These include reimbursement of expenses for Fire Station No. 1, […]
Meet the Katy City Council Candidates: Diane Walker
By George Slaughter Diane Walker, who works as a virtual assistant, is seeking a Ward A seat on the Katy City Council. This is her second bid for a council seat. Last year she unsuccessfully ran for the seat held by Janet Corte. This year she faces Dan Smith, a territory senior manager. In addition to the council race, voters will decide whether to approve a $6 million bond proposal. The proposal has two propositions: […]
Meet the Katy City Council Candidates: Dan Smith
By George Slaughter Dan Smith, a territory senior manager, is seeking a Ward A seat on the Katy City Council. Incumbent Dusty Thiele, an insurance executive, was appointed to the seat last year following the resignation of Frank Carroll. Thiele is not seeking election in his own right to the seat. Smith faces Diane Walker, who works as a virtual assistant. In addition to the council race, voters will decide whether to approve a $6 […]
Council to Decide Monday Whether to Postpone City Election
By George Slaughter The Katy City Council will vote Monday whether to postpone the municipal elections to November 3, in response to a COVID-19-related proclamation issued by Gov. Greg Abbott Wednesday. Under the law, elections are held on uniform dates, meaning that the city can hold its election on May 2 as originally scheduled, or November 3, which would coincide with the presidential election. “I strongly encourage local election officials to take advantage of these […]
Hastings Elected Mayor; Stockdick Elected to Council
By George Slaughter Bill Hastings, the former Katy police chief, unseated Mayor Chuck Brawner in Saturday’s city election, polling 1,243 votes, or 60%, to Brawner’s 846 votes, or 40%. Hastings was appointed chief in 2009 and retired in January to run for mayor. This was his first run for political office. Hastings said he got very little sleep the last three days of the campaign, and joked if he could sleep late on Sunday—late being […]
City to Purchase New Aerial Ladder Fire Truck
By George Slaughter The Katy City Council Monday night authorized up to $1.5 million in financing for the purchase of a new aerial ladder fire truck and related equipment for the Katy Fire Department. The new truck is expected within 10 months. Assistant Fire Chief Kenny Parker said the current unit, built in 2004, is now in the shop awaiting parts that had to be manufactured because the engine is an older model. Last year, […]