Early voting starts today for 17 contested city council and school board races, two charter elections, a bond proposition and proposal to create an emergency services district. Election day is May 9.
Depending on the city or school district you live in, the early-voting polls open as early as 7 a.m. While early voting continues through May 5, the hours the polls are open vary, Galveston County Elections Coordinator Douglas Godinich said.
With the exception of the Clear Creek school district and the city of Friendswood, the county’s election office is managing the voting.
The most contested races will come in League City and Santa Fe, where every seat on the ballot is contested.
Six candidates are running for a single school board seat in the Clear Creek school district, while longtime community activist Bo Hunter is challenging incumbent Shirley Fanuiel for a spot on the La Marque school board.
Of all the races, the ones with the most vitriol have to be in the small canal community of Bayou Vista. The council there has been locked in a war of words, lawsuits and accusations of police harassment ever since a majority bloc of the aldermen voted to cut the salaries of the police chief, his officers and the city secretary.
As a result, Ross Leago — who is on the minority bloc on council — has drawn two challengers for his Position 2 seat.
Position 4 incumbent Larry Jones — a Leago ally — has drawn a pair of challengers, including Bret Jamail, a member of the trio on council who cut salaries. Jamail did not run for re-election to his Position 3 slot but instead chose to take on Jones, who has been a vocal opponent of Jamail’s group.
In Tiki Island, alderman Phillip Hopkins is challenged by write-in candidate Tammy Brindley for the mayor’s seat, while voters also will decide if they want to create an emergency services district to fund the volunteer fire department.
In Santa Fe, three candidates who propose to cut the city’s police budget in half are running as a group for mayor and two council posts. Michael Aldous is challenging Jim Abney for the Council Position 2 slot, while Warren Aldous is challenging incumbent Jeff Tambrella and political new comer Tom Dendy for the Position 3 council seat.
Former Councilman Neal Young in challenging Mayor Ralph Stenzel. In addition, Santa Fe voters will decide the fate of 18 charter amendments, most of which are just bringing the city’s ordinances to match state laws.
One of the amendments, though, would require the city manager to live in the city limits.
The residency of the city manager is also on the ballot in Friendswood. Voters there will decide if the city council can waive the requirement that the city manager live within the city limits.
Friendswood voters are also deciding whether the city will spend more than $9 million for city improvements, including expanding the city library.
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On the Web
Find a list of candidates and issues on the ballot and the latest political gossip in the Politics blog; candidates respond to questions from The Daily News at galvnews.com.
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Early Voting Locations
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Bayou Vista
• Galveston County MUD No. 12, 2929 state Highway 6
Today and Tuesday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to noon
May 4-5: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Clear Lake Shores
• City Hall, 1006 South Shore Drive
Today and Tuesday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to noon
May 4-5: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Clear Creek ISD
• Clear Creek High School Ninth-Grade Center, 2451 East Main in League City
• Clear Lake High School Ninth-Grade Center, 2903 Falcon Pass in Houston
• Clear Brook High School, 4607 FM 2351 in Friends-
wood
Today-Saturday and May 4-5: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Friendswood
• City Hall, 910 S. Friendswood Drive
Today-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May: 4: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
May 5: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Hitchcock
• City Hall, 7423 state Highway 6
Today-Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 4: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
May 5: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Jamaica Beach
• City Hall, 16628 San Luis Pass Road
Today: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursdy and Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 4-5: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Kemah
• City Hall, 1401 state Highway 146
Today-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to noon
May 4-5: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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City of La Marque/LMSID
• La Marque City Hall Community Room, 1109B Bayou Road
Today-Saturday and May 4-5: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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League City
• Johnny Arolfo Center, 400 W. Walker St.
Today-Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to noon
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 4-5: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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City of Santa Fe/SFISD
Today-Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to noon
May 4: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
May 5: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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Tiki Island/Emergency Services District No. 2
•Tiki Island Police Station, 747 Tiki Drive
Today and Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to noon
May 4: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 5: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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Galveston County Water Improvement District No. 8
• WCID No. 8 office, 12148 15th Street, Santa Fe
Today-Friday: 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
May 4-5: 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
