After seven days of early voting, only 146 votes have been cast in the Humble ISD School Board election, according to Peggy Young, Humble ISD executive secretary.
That is a surprisingly low number. More residents should want a stake in the election considering that the quality of a school district correlates to an area’s housing values. In light of the recent report of a $11 million budget deficit at Humble ISD and budget cuts looming, the people we elect to the school board will have a significant impact on our community.
The low turn out may have something to do with the community just coming off of the primary run-off election, but that is no excuse for voter apathy. Voters still have a chance to do their civic duty this Saturday.
Election Day is on May 8 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling places are: Humble City Hall/Council Chamber, North Belt Elementary School, Oaks Elementary School, Foster Elementary School, Kingwood Middle School and Creekwood Middle School.
Two school board member seats are on the ballot. In position 5, incumbent Brent Engelage has no opponent. Meanwhile, there are three contenders vying for the position 4 spot.The candidates are Charles Cunningham, Leslie Flickinger and Susan Leopold.
Cunningham, the incumbent who was elected to the board in 2007, is a commercial relations manager for CenterPoint Energy and an Humble resident. Flickinger is a substitute teacher for Humble ISD and a former principal of St. Martha Catholic School who lives in Kingwood. Leopold, a CPA, is chief financial officer of ATF Finance and a Kingwood resident.
More information on the candidates can be found at: http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/05/05/kingwood_observer/news/17kohisd.txt
Get out and vote on Saturday!
