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Are you a part of the problem? Or a part of the solution? On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, Americans will be participating in one of the most important elections of our lifetimes. This "Political Edition" of Houston Business Connections Newspaper is designed to inform you and urge you to become active in the political process by voting in this Midterm Election!
Citation preview
PUBLISHED BY AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS I EMAIL: NEWS@HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM
VOTE TUESDAY, NOV., 2ND!Remarks by the President on Rebuilding America's Infrastructure: So investing in our infrastructure is something that members
of both political parties have always supported. It’s something that groups ranging from the Chamber of Commerce to the AFL-CIO
support today. And by making these investments across the country, we won’t just make our economy run better over the long haul -- we will
create good, middle-class jobs right now. SEE P.18
FIGHTING TO SAVE LIVES
MICHAEL MAULDIN’S NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS TO SAVE
THE LIVES OF THE UNBORN: Michael and his wife Meredith
are active members at New Life Church, where she leads worship.
They are the proud parents of a new baby girl, Ellia Grace.Mauldin is the
Republican candidate for State Senator District 13. SEE PAGE.14.
FIGHTING FOR HOUSTON
GO ALL THE WAY DOWN YOUR VERY LONG BALLOT TO VOTE FOR PROP. #1P o l i t i c a l a d v . R e n e w H o u s t o n S p e c i f i c P u r p o s e C o m m i t t e e .
FINALLY, THERE’S PROP 1: MORE LOCAL JOBS, CREATES THOUSANDS OF JOBS FOR HOUSTON FAMILIES, WHEN WE NEED THEM MOST! SEE P.5
FIGHTING FOR EDUCATION
President Signs Executive Order On Education and Hispanics P.20
President Barack Obama looks over to Javier
Garcia of Brownsville, Texas. SEE P.20
PARKER ROBINSON COLEMAN
See comments from Mayor Annise Parker on
PAGE - 2, Carroll Robinson on PAGE - 2,
State Rep. Garnet Coleman on PAGE - 4
DEMOCRATIC STATE REP. ELECT RON E. REYNOLDS & REPUBLICAN MAYOR ALLEN OWEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR FORT BEND COUNTY - P.16
2 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
By ANNISE PARKER
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
have often said that Houston
is a city built on dreams —
but it’s a great city because
Houstonians are the kind of
dreamers who work hard and have
common sense. That can-do spirit is
how we built the Port of Houston,
the Medical Center, the Johnson
Space Center and even what was
once known as the eighth wonder of
the world - the Astrodome.
Last summer, 35,000 Housto-
nians said it’s time for Houston to
come together again - this time to
solve our massive street and
drainage problems, and do so in a
way that’s fiscally responsible and
creates local jobs that we need
right now. They signed a petition
asking for a vote to create a fund
dedicated solely to rebuilding our aging, crumbling streets and
drainage systems. Houston City Council heeded their request
and placed Proposition 1 on the November ballot.
Now I am asking all Houston voters to vote in favor of
this ballot initiative. I am asking because it is necessary, it is
the best option and it is fair - and be-
cause taking responsibility for the future
of our city is what Houstonians do.
Is it necessary? Absolutely! Ap-
proximately 65 percent of our streets
and drainage systems are beyond their
useful life - and at current funding lev-
els it would take 100 years to replace
them. Our police officers say that flood-
ing and bad road conditions can keep
police, fire or emergency medical per-
sonnel from responding quickly to
emergencies. Likewise, a hard rain can
prevent parents from picking up their
kids from school or returning home after
work. Just a few inches of rain can leave
motorists stranded and bring this city’s
commerce to a halt.
Is it the best option? Yes, and it
will save millions of dollars for taxpay-
ers! Instead of borrowing money and
spending millions on interest payments,
Proposition 1 mandates a responsible pay-as-you-go plan. For
the first time in Houston’s history there would be a dedicated
income stream - a lock box - that can only be spent for street
and drainage improvements. Your vote would prohibit us from
diverting these dollars for any other projects - with no excep-
tions. And your vote would mean the city could repair, replace
or upgrade every street in Houston that is past its useful life.
Is it fair? On every level, yes. Everyone has a responsi-
bility for helping to solve our drainage problems, and each
of us will be asked to pay our fair share, but no more. This
includes developers who will be assessed based on the im-
pact their projects have on the drainage system. Commercial
and residential property owners will pay a user fee based on
their “impervious cover,” the amount of hard surface on their
property - like buildings and driveways - that cannot absorb
water. That fee is about $5 per month for a typical home-
owner with 1,900 square feet of these hard surfaces. Prop-
erty owners can estimate their own fee by following
instructions on the city’s website.
Any city taking on the 36 inches of rain Tropical Storm
Allison dumped on Houston during 24 hours nearly a decade
ago would flood. But you should not be afraid to leave your
house on a day when we get just three inches of rain. You
should not have to stay up all night watching the drainage
ditch behind your house because you heard the thunder of a
typical Houston summer downpour. And, you shouldn’t have
to drive your car through water up to the engine to get home.
For about the cost of a fast-food hamburger once a month, we
can fix these problems. We can’t afford to do otherwise.
Parker is mayor of Houston.
President Obama constantly
reminds us that leadership
requires more than just
continuously saying no.
oting against Proposition 1 is not going to reduce
flooding in our neighborhoods, help create tens of
thousands of good paying jobs in our city or help in-
crease economic growth and development throughout
Houston.
Every responsible person agrees that we have a flooding
problem in our city and that our streets and bridges need to be
repaired and maintained as a matter of public safety. Waiting
two or more years to fully invest in repairing our streets and
bridges will not make them better, safer or smoother.
Those who want us to vote against Proposition 1 argue that
we should do so because there are too many questions. Well, in
fact, there are more answers than questions.
Mayor Parker has already agreed to appoint an independ-
ent public Oversight Committee to help run the Drainage Pro-
gram if Proposition 1 is approved by the voters. She has also
agreed to require a ⅔ vote of Council to increase the drainage
fee after it is initially adopted. After the two new district coun-
cil seats are added to the city council next year, it would require
12 of 17 council members to agree to any increase in the fee
before it could take effect.
More importantly, the Mayor and all the members of
Council are up for election or re-election every other year so
that they can be held accountable for their votes by the public.
Council Members and civic club leaders already know the
list of infrastructure projects that need to be done. Those proj-
ects can be found in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP),
the Superneighborhood Action Plans (SNAP) and individual re-
quests submitted by civic clubs and homeowners to the Public
Works and Engineering Department. The city also has an exist-
ing list of drainage projects that will be added to as growth, de-
velopment and emergencies occur. All of this information is
currently available to the City Council and it was all developed
with public input through the annual CIP and Budget hearings
held all across the city.
It is the Council’s responsibility to tell us the order in
which these projects will be completed.
If they want to know my answer, projects in the oldest
neighborhoods should go first.
All the questions that have been raised about Proposition 1
can be answered right now by City Council. We don’t have to
wait for two years, they could answer all the questions that
have been raised in the next two weeks.
Three city council members can call a Special City Coun-
cil meeting right now to vote on exempting school districts and
religious organizations from the drainage fee. They can also
vote right now on establishing a low income credit as requested
by The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) and to establish the
billing procedure they prefer. What are Council Members wait-
ing on? Who are they waiting for to give them the answers?
It’s their job to provide us with the answers sometime, and this
is one of those times.
Let’s ask our Council Members to do their job and
Let’s VOTE FOR PROPOSITION 1.
LEADERSHIP IS THE ANSWERCarroll G. Robinson, Esq.*
V
GO ALL THE WAY DOWN YOUR VERY LONG BALLOT TO VOTE FOR PROP. #1P o l i t i c a l a d v . R e n e w H o u s t o n S p e c i f i c P u r p o s e C o m m i t t e e .
Vote yes on Prop 1for Houston’s future
MAYOR ANNISE PARKER
I
Finally, Prop 1.
Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION n 3
Let’s ask our Council Members to do their
job and Let’s VOTE FOR PROPOSITION 1.*Carroll G. Robinson is a former At-Large member of the Houston City Council. He is an Associate
Professor at Texas Southern University and Chairman of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce.
Carroll G. Robinson“Be sure to go all the way down
your very long ballot to vote for
Proposition 1 on Nov. 2nd!”
4 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
OUSTON – Texas
State Representa-
tive Garnet Cole-
man recently announced his
endorsement of Proposition
1, a measure on the Novem-
ber 2 City of Houston ballot
to create a dedicated, pay-as-
you-go fund to rebuild Hous-
ton’s streets and drainage
systems.
“I urge all Houstonians
to join me in voting FOR
Proposition 1,” said Rep.
Coleman. “Prop 1 is a re-
sponsible solution that will
help prevent flooding in
our neighborhoods create
thousands of jobs for Hous-
ton families.”
Rep. Coleman explained
that the city currently bor-
rows money to fund streets
and drainage projects, cost-
ing millions of dollars a year
in interest payments. “With
this responsible pay-as-you-
go plan, we’ll save millions
of dollars for taxpayers and
use the money to fix our
streets and drainage prob-
lems.”
Rep. Coleman cautioned
Houstonians that, as in any
campaign, there is a lot of
misinformation about Prop 1.
He encouraged voters to
check the facts about Prop 1
for themselves:
“Mayor Parker has
posted her plan for the imple-
mentation of Prop 1 on the
city’s website. In my opin-
ion, Mayor Parker’s plan is
balanced, responsible and
fair,” said Rep. Coleman.
“And I respect the mayor’s
commitment to make sure
that the worst problems will
be fixed first, no matter what
part of town they are in.”
State Representative Garnet
Coleman is a leader in the
Texas Legislature advocating
for economic development,
neighborhood revitalization
and urban redevelopment.
He authored and passed leg-
islation that created the
Greater Southeast Manage-
ment District, the Downtown
Management District and the
Fourth Ward and East Mon-
trose Improvement Districts.
Additionally, he passed leg-
islation creating Houston’s
convention center hotel and
expanding the convention
center itself. Representative
Coleman also authored leg-
islation allowing the cre-
ation of a commercial and
industrial development zone
in Harris County, which is
designed to promote eco-
nomic development along
the transportation corridors
that link Houston-area
transportation nodes.
STATE REPRESENTATIVEGARNET COLEMAN
ENDORSES PROPOSITION 1
STATE REPRESENTATIVE GARNET COLEMAN
I urge all Houstonians to join me in voting FOR Propo-sition 1,” said Rep. Coleman. “Prop 1 is a responsible
solution that will help prevent flooding in our neighborhoodscreate thousands of jobs for Houston families.} }
H
“Prop 1 is our best chance to rebuild infrastructure in our neighborhoods and create local jobs.”
Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION n 5
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Finally, Prop 1.
We shouldn’t have to worry about picking up our kids from school or getting home from work after a hard rain. That’s why we need to vote FOR Prop 1.
A pay-as-you-go plan to help prevent �ooding, create local jobs and save millions for taxpayers.
On November 2, go all the way down your very long ballot and Vote FOR Proposition 1
vote FORPROPGood streets. Good drainage.
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6 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
THE NEXT EDITION OF HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER WILL BE PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2010 • AUBREY R TAYLOR
Call (832)212.8735 to advertise!
18 • WWW.HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM •832.212.8735 • SERIES RELEASE DATES • OCT 1ST • OCT 8TH • OCT 15 TH • OCT 22ND • OCT 29 TH
SAMPLE BALLOTGENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONSHARRIS COUNTY NOVEMBER 02, 2010
SAMPLE BALLOT GENERAL AND SPECIALELECTIONS, HARRIS COUNTY, NOVEM-BER 02, 2010 --- NOTE: The Sample Ballotprovides the order the contests and candi-dates will appear on the ballot. However, theSample Ballot does not reflect how the officialballot will 'look' on the eSlate or mail-ballot.
Straight PartyRepublican Party
Democratic Party
Libertarian Party
Green Party
United States Representative, District 2
Ted Poe - (Republican Party)
David W. Smith - (Libertarian Party)
United States Representative, District 7
John Culberson - (Republican Party)
Bob Townsend - (Libertarian Party)
Write-in__________________________
United States Representative, District 9
Steve Mueller - (Republican Party)
Al Green - (Democratic Party)
Michael W. Hope - (Libertarian Party)
United States Representative, District 10
Michael McCaul - (Republican Party)
Ted Ankrum - (Democratic Party)
Jeremiah "JP" Perkins - (Libertarian Party)
United States Representative, District 18
John Faulk - (Republican Party)
Sheila Jackson Lee - (Democratic Party)
Mike Taylor - (Libertarian Party)
Write-in___________________________
United States Representative, District 22
Pete Olson - (Republican Party)
Kesha Rogers - (Democratic Party)
Steven Susman - (Libertarian Party)
Write-in__________________________
United States Representative, District 29
Roy Morales - (Republican Party)
Gene Green - (Democratic Party)
Brad Walters - (Libertarian Party)
Governor
Rick Perry - (Republican Party)
Bill White - (Democratic Party)
Kathie Glass - (Libertarian Party)
Deb Shafto - (Green Party)
Write-in____________________________
Lieutenant Governor
David Dewhurst - (Republican Party)
Linda Chavez-Thompson - (Democratic Party)
Scott Jameson - (Libertarian Party)
Herb Gonzales, Jr. - (Green Party)
Attorney General
Greg Abbott - (Republican Party)
Barbara Ann Radnofsky - (Democratic Party)
Jon Roland - (Libertarian Party)
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Susan Combs - (Republican Party)
Mary J. Ruwart - (Libertarian Party)
Edward Lindsay - (Green Party)
Commissioner of the General Land Office
Jerry Patterson - (Republican Party)
Hector Uribe - (Democratic Party)
James L. Holdar - (Libertarian Party)
Commissioner of Agriculture
Todd Staples - (Republican Party)
Hank Gilbert - (Democratic Party)
Rick Donaldson - (Libertarian Party)
Railroad Commissioner
David Porter - (Republican Party)
Jeff Weems - (Democratic Party)
Roger Gary - (Libertarian Party)
Art Browning - (Green Party)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3
Debra Lehrmann - (Republican Party)
Jim Sharp - (Democratic Party)
William Bryan Strange, III - (Libertarian Party)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 5
Paul Green - (Republican Party)
Bill Moody - (Democratic Party)
Tom Oxford - (Libertarian Party)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 9
Eva Guzman - (Republican Party)
Blake Bailey - (Democratic Party)
Jack Armstrong - (Libertarian Party)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2
Lawrence "Larry" Meyers - (Republican Party)
J. Randell Stevens - (Libertarian Party)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5
Cheryl Johnson - (Republican Party)
Dave Howard - (Libertarian Party)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6
Michael E. Keasler - (Republican Party)
Keith Hampton - (Democratic Party)
Robert Ravee Virasin - (Libertarian Party)
Member, State Board of Education, District 4
Lawrence A. Allen Jr. - (Democratic Party)
State Senator, District 7
Dan Patrick - (Republican Party)
Lee Coughran - (Libertarian Party)
State Senator, District 13
Michael Mauldin - (Republican Party)
Rodney Ellis - (Democratic Party)
State Senator, District 15
Bill Walker - (Republican Party)
John Whitmire - (Democratic Party)
State Senator, District 17
Joan Huffman - (Republican Party)
Phil Kurtz - (Libertarian Party)
State Representative, District 126
Patricia Harless - (Republican Party)
Casey McKinney - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 127
Dan Huberty - (Republican Party)
Joe A. Montemayor - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 128
Wayne Smith - (Republican Party)
State Representative, District 129
John E. Davis - (Republican Party)
State Representative, District 130
Allen Fletcher - (Republican Party)
Joe Spencer - (Libertarian Party)
State Representative, District 131
Alma A. Allen - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 132
Bill Callegari - (Republican Party)
Silvia Mintz - (Democratic Party)
Michael Ryan - (Libertarian Party)
State Representative, District 133
Jim Murphy - (Republican Party)
Kristi Thibaut - (Democratic Party)
Alfred N. Montestruc - (Libertarian Party)
State Representative, District 134
Sarah Davis - (Republican Party)
Ellen Cohen - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 135
Gary Elkins Republican Party
State Representative, District 136
Beverly Woolley - (Republican Party)
Gerald W. "Jerry" LaFleur - (Libertarian Party)
State Representative, District 137
Sylvia Spivey - (Republican Party)
Scott Hochberg - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 138
Dwayne Bohac - (Republican Party)
Kendra Yarbrough Camarena - (Democratic Party)
Wesley Hamner - (Libertarian Party)
State Representative, District 139
Sylvester Turner - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 140
Armando Lucio Walle - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 141
Michael Bunch - (Republican Party)
Senfronia Thompson - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 142
Harold V. Dutton Jr. - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 143
Ana E. Hernandez - (Democratic Party)--------------------------------------------------------------------------HARRIS COUNTY BALLOT CONTINUED ON PAGE • 20
HARRIS COUNTY2010 MID-TERM ELECTION CANDIDATES & INITIATIVES
THE CHECK MARKS ON THIS SAMPLE BALLOT PAGE REPRESENTS THE 2010 MIDTERM PREDICTIONS OF A SELECT READER GROUP
OF HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS READERS AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE OPINION OF THE PUBLISHER OR SUPPORTERS.
2010 MIDTERM RECOMMENDATIONS, SAMPLE BALLOT & PROPOSITIONSeMAIL: NEWS@HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM
RECOMMENDATIONS CONTINUED ON P.4
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Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION n 7•832.212.8735 • SERIES RELEASE DATES • OCT 1ST • OCT 8TH • OCT 15 TH • OCT 22ND • OCT 29 TH • WWW.PEOPLEDOINGBUSINESS.COM • 17
“280th Family District Court:Kathy Vossler, the Democraticcandidate, is our choice for thisopen bench, which has been desig-nated to handle family violencecases. Vossler has deep experi-ence in the area of family violencelaw, both in private practice and asa student attorney for a legal aidclinic. The University of HoustonLaw graduate appears to have apassion for this sensitive area of thelaw, which she describes as havingone foot in family law and the otherin criminal law. In an area wherelives literally can be at stake, webelieve her commitment wouldmake a telling difference.”
- HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Kathy VosslerCandidate for Judge 280th
Judicial District Court
8 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
THE NEXT EDITION OF HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER WILL BE PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2010 • AUBREY R TAYLOR
Call (832)212.8735 to advertise!
20 • WWW.HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM •832.212.8735 • SERIES RELEASE DATES • OCT 1ST • OCT 8TH • OCT 15 TH • OCT 22ND • OCT 29 TH
State Representative, District 144
Ken Legler - (Republican Party)
Rick Molina - (Democratic Party)
Clifford Messina - (Libertarian Party)
Joel West - (Green Party)
State Representative, District 145
Carol Alvarado - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 146
Borris L. Miles - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 147
Garnet F. Coleman - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 148
Fernando Herrera - (Republican Party)
Jessica Cristina Farrar - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 149
Jack O'Connor - (Republican Party)
Hubert Vo - (Democratic Party)
State Representative, District 150
Debbie Riddle - (Republican Party)
Brad Neal - (Democratic Party)
Eric M. Holdt - (Libertarian Party)
Chief Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District
Sherry Radack - (Republican Party)
Morris Overstreet - (Democratic Party)
Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 4
Evelyn Keyes - (Republican Party)
Michael Gomez - (Democratic Party)
Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 8,Unexpired Term
Michael Massengale - (Republican Party)
Robert Ray - (Democratic Party)
Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 2
Sharon McCally - (Republican Party)
Norma Venso - (Democratic Party)
Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 5,Unexpired Term
Martha Hill Jamison - (Republican Party)
Wally Kronzer - (Democratic Party)
Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 9
Tracy Elizabeth Christopher - (Republican Party)
Tim Riley - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 55th Judicial District
Jeff Shadwick - (Republican Party)
Dion Ramos - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 113th Judicial District
John Donovan - (Republican Party)
Christina Bryan - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 157th Judicial District
Randy Wilson - (Republican Party)
Shawn Thierry - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 180th Judicial District
Marc Brown - (Republican Party)
Darrell Jordan - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 182nd Judicial District
Jeannine Barr - (Republican Party)
Brandon Dudley - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 183rd Judicial District
Vanessa Velasquez - (Republican Party)
Michael Gomez - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 184th Judicial District
Jan Krocker - (Republican Party)
Jay W. Burnett - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 185th Judicial District
Susan Brown - (Republican Party)
Vivian King - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 189th Judicial District
Bill Burke - (Republican Party)
Ursula A. Hall - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 190th Judicial District
Patricia J. Kerrigan - (Republican Party)
Olan Boudreaux - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 208th Judicial District
Denise Collins - (Republican Party)
Loretta Johnson Muldrow - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 209th Judicial District
Mike McSpadden - (Republican Party)
Kathy Cheng - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 228th Judicial District
Marc Carter - (Republican Party)
Harris Wood - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 230th Judicial District
Belinda Hill - (Republican Party)
Garland "Mack" McInnis - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 232nd Judicial District
Mary Lou Keel - (Republican Party)
Greg Glass - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 234th Judicial District
Reece Rondon - (Republican Party)
Tanner Garth - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 245th Judicial District
Roy L. Moore - (Republican Party)
Janiece Horn - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 246th Judicial District
Jim York - (Republican Party)
Sherri Cothrun - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 247th Judicial District
Bonnie Crane Hellums - (Republican Party)
Mary Kay Green - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 248th Judicial District
Joan Campbell - (Republican Party)
Jim Sullivan - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 257th Judicial District
Judy Warne - (Republican Party)
Sandra Peake - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 262nd Judicial District
Denise Bradley - (Republican Party)
Tom Berg - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 263rd Judicial District
Jim Wallace - (Republican Party)
Alvin Nunnery - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 269th Judicial District
Dan Hinde - (Republican Party)
Katie Kennedy - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 270th Judicial District
Brent Gamble - (Republican Party)
Bob Thomas - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 280th Judicial District
Lynn Bradshaw Hull - (Republican Party)
Kathy Vossler - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 281st Judicial District
Sylvia Matthews - (Republican Party)
Donna Roth - (Democratic Party)
District Judge, 295th Judicial District
Caroline E. Baker - (Republican Party)
Paul Simon - (Democratic Party)
Family District Judge, 308th Judicial District
James Lombardino - (Republican Party)
Bruce Kessler - (Democratic Party)
Family District Judge, 309th Judicial District
Sheri Y. Dean - (Republican Party)
Bill Rice - (Democratic Party)
Family District Judge, 310th Judicial District
Lisa Millard - (Republican Party)
Judy Dougherty - (Democratic Party)
Family District Judge, 311th Judicial District
Denise Pratt - (Republican Party)
Deborah Wright - (Democratic Party)
Family District Judge, 312th Judicial District
David Farr - (Republican Party)
Robert Hinojosa - (Democratic Party)
Family District Judge, 313th Judicial District
Glenn Devlin - (Republican Party)
Natalie Oakes - (Democratic Party)
Family District Judge, 314th Judicial District
John F. Phillips - (Republican Party)
David Longoria - (Democratic Party)
Family District Judge, 315th Judicial District
Michael "Mike" Schneider - (Republican Party)
Keith Branch - (Democratic Party)
County Judge
Ed Emmett - (Republican Party)
Gordon Quan - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Court at Law No. 1
R. Jack Cagle - (Republican Party)
Erica M. Graham - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Court at Law No. 2
Jacqueline Lucci Smith - (Republican Party)
Cheryl Elliott Thornton - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Court at Law No. 3
Linda Storey - (Republican Party)
Damon Crenshaw - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Court at Law No. 4
Roberta Lloyd - (Republican Party)
Bruce Mosier - (Democratic Party)--------------------------------------------------------------------------HARRIS COUNTY BALLOT CONTINUED ON PAGE • 22
HARRIS COUNTY2010 MID-TERM ELECTION CANDIDATES & INITIATIVES CONTINUED FROM • 18
THE CHECK MARKS ON THIS SAMPLE BALLOT PAGE REPRESENTS THE 2010 MIDTERM PREDICTIONS OF A SELECT READER GROUP
OF HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS READERS AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE OPINION OF THE PUBLISHER OR SUPPORTERS.
2010 MIDTERM RECOMMENDATIONS, SAMPLE BALLOT & PROPOSITIONSeMAIL: NEWS@HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM
RECOMMENDATIONS CONTINUED ON P.6
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Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITIONn 9•832.212.8735 • SERIES RELEASE DATES • OCT 1ST • OCT 8TH • OCT 15 TH • OCT 22ND • OCT 29 TH • WWW.PEOPLEDOINGBUSINESS.COM • 3
POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR BY THE ERICA GRAHAM CAMPAIGN, BESSIE B. NASH, TREASURER, P. O. BOX 440683, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77244, WHO IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE VOLUNTARY LIMITS OF THE JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN FAIRNESS ACT.
• Erica Graham is running for Harris CountyCivil Court-at-Law Position #1 to improvethe civil justice system.
• Erica Graham is a civil litigator inHouston for the past 12 years, Erica hasworked for two nationally recognized lawfirms - Fulbright & Jaworski and Kasowitz,Benson, Torres & Friedman - and as coun-sel for Chevron.
• Erica Graham has represented clients inboth state and federal courts in Texas in lit-igation involving toxic tort and environmen-tal law, employment law, personal injurylaw, oil and gas law and general commer-cial litigation.
• Erica Graham has been recognized fordoing high quality work preparing cases fortrial, identifying settlement possibilities,benefiting client organizations, consideringcost implications, and explaining complexlegal options and technical issues to oppos-ing counsel and clients.
• Erica Graham also has a proven trackrecord of collaborating and working produc-tively with managers, clients, judges,opposing counsels, other attorneys, legalstaff and juries.
• Erica Graham believes the people of HarrisCounty deserve judges who are committed toproviding the best quality service they can tothe people they serve.
• Erica Graham believes the judiciary shouldreflect the community it serves and shouldemphasize fairness, impartiality, and a spiritof excellence.
• Erica Graham is committed to customerservice, running a well organized and effi-cient courtroom, minimizing docket back-log, and reducing the time between the fil-ing of a case and its final adjudication.
• Erica Graham believes that every citizen hasa right to have his or her case heard before afair and unbiased judge.
ABOUT GRAHAM:
W W W. E M G R A H A M F O R J U D G E . C O M
10 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
THE NEXT EDITION OF HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER WILL BE PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2010 • AUBREY R TAYLOR
Call (832)212.8735 to advertise!
22 • WWW.HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM •832.212.8735 • SERIES RELEASE DATES • OCT 1ST • OCT 8TH • OCT 15 TH • OCT 22ND • OCT 29 TH
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 1
Paula Goodhart - (Republican Party)
Beverly D. Melontree - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 2
Bill Harmon - (Republican Party)
Mary Connealy Acosta - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 3
Natalie Fleming - (Republican Party)
Judith Snively - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 4
John Clinton - (Republican Party)
Alfred G. "Al" Leal - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 5
Margaret Stewart Harris - (Republican Party)
Alfred "Bud" Valdez - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 6
Larry Standley - (Republican Party)
Denise Spencer - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 7
Pam Derbyshire - (Republican Party)
Shelia Acosta - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 8
Jay Karahan - (Republican Party)
Eugene Newsom - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 9
Analia Wilkerson - (Republican Party)
Juanita Jackson Barner - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 10
Sherman A. Ross - (Republican Party)
Lori Chambers Gray - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 11
Diane Bull - (Republican Party)
Mark Diaz - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 12
Robin Brown - (Republican Party)
Cheryl Harris Diggs - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 13
Don Smyth - (Republican Party)
Dennis Slate - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 14
Mike Fields - (Republican Party)
Lee Harper Wilson - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Criminal Court No. 15
Jean Spradling Hughes - (Republican Party)
Toni Martinez Ingversen - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Probate Court No. 1
Loyd Wright - (Republican Party)
Kathy Stone - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Probate Court No. 2
Mike Wood - (Republican Party)
Joellen Snow - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Probate Court No. 3
Rory Robert Olsen - (Republican Party)
Priscilla Walters - (Democratic Party)
Judge, County Probate Court No. 4
Christine Riddle Butts - (Republican Party)
Tammy Manning - (Democratic Party)
District Clerk
Chris Daniel - (Republican Party)
Loren Jackson - (Democratic Party)
County Clerk
Stan Stanart - (Republican Party)
Ann Harris Bennett - (Democratic Party)
Don Cook - (Green Party)
County Tax Assessor-Collector, Unexpired Term
Don Sumners - (Republican Party)
Diane Trautman - (Democratic Party)
County Treasurer
Orlando Sanchez - (Republican Party)
Billy Briscoe - (Democratic Party)
County School Trustee, Position 1, Precinct 2
Marvin Morris - (Republican Party)
Mike Rose - (Democratic Party)
County School Trustee, Position 2, Precinct 4
Angie Chesnut - (Republican Party)
County Commissioner, Precinct 2
Jack Morman - (Republican Party)
Sylvia R. Garcia - (Democratic Party)
County Commissioner, Precinct 4
Jerry Eversole - (Republican Party)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1, Place 2
David M. Patronella - (Democratic Party)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 2, Place 2
Phillip Webb - (Republican Party)
George E. Risner - (Democratic Party)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 3, Place 2
Don Coffey - (Democratic Party)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 4, Place 2
Tom Lawrence - (Republican Party)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 5, Place 2
Jeff Williams - (Republican Party)
Mary Ann Bryan - (Libertarian Party)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 6, Place 2
Armando V. Rodriguez - (Democratic Party)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 7, Place 2
Zinetta A. Burney - (Democratic Party
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 8, Place 2
Louie Ditta Republican Party
City of HoustonSpecial Election
City of Houston, PROPOSITION NO. 1 CHARTERAMENDMENT PROPOSITION: Relating to the Creationof a Dedicated Funding Source to Enhance, Improveand Renew Drainage Systems and Streets. Shall theCity Charter of the City of Houston be amended to pro-vide for the enhancement, improvement and ongoingrenewal of Houston's drainage and streets by creating aDedicated Pay-As-You-Go Fund for Drainage andStreets? (FOR OR AGAINST)
City of Houston, PROPOSITION NO. 2 CHAR-TER AMENDMENT PROPOSITION: Relating toResidency Requirements for District Council Office forthe November 2011 General Election. Shall the CityCharter of the City of Houston be amended to providethat for the general election to be held in November2011, and for the purpose of redistricting, the requiredperiod of residency to file for the office of District CouncilMember shall be reduced from 12 months to 6 monthspreceding the election day? (FOR OR AGAINST)
City of Houston, PROPOSITION NO. 3 CHARTERAMENDMENT PROPOSITION: An Amendment to theCity Charter Relating to the Use of Photographic TrafficSignal Enforcement Systems (Red Light Cameras).Shall the City of Houston continue to use red light cam-eras to enforce state or local laws relating to trafficsafety? (FOR OR AGAINST)
City of Baytown Special Election - City ofBaytown PROPOSITION 1: The initiative ordinance lim-iting the use of traffic law photomonitoring devices with-in the city. (FOR OR AGAINST)
City of Nassau Bay Special Election - City ofNassau Bay PROPOSITION 1: The reauthorization ofthe local sales and use tax in the City of Nassau Bay,Texas, at the rate of one-fourth of one percent to contin-ue providing revenue for maintenance and repair ofmunicipal streets. (FOR OR AGAINST)
City of Spring Valley Village, Texas BOND ELEC-TION - City of Spring Valley Village, Texas PROPO-SITION I: THE ISSUANCE OF $18,060,000 GENERALOBLIGATION BONDS AND THE LEVYING OF A TAXIN PAYMENT THEREOF FOR STREET AND ROADREPAIRS, IMPROVEMENTS AND EXTENSIONS, ANDRELATED DRAINAGE, INCLUDING SPECIFICALLYREPAIRS, IMPROVEMENTS, AND EXTENSIONS ATMERLIN DRIVE, LUPTON DRIVE, THE CEDARWOODSECTION 2 AREA, THE BRACHER AREA, THE TERE-SA-BEN HUR AREA, PECH/CEDARBRAKE OUT-FALLS AREA, THE HILLDALE/BADE/ADKINS AREA,THE VOSS ROAD AREA, SPRING OAKS EAST,SPRING OAKS WEST, BURKHART ROAD, CAMP-BELL ROAD, BINGLE ROAD, AND IN BRIGHTONPLACE SUBDIVISION, AND THE MISCELLANEOUSAREAS WITHIN THE CITY. (FOR OR AGAINST)
City of Spring Valley Village, Texas PROPOSI-TION II: THE ISSUANCE OF $3,100,000 GENERALOBLIGATION BONDS AND THE LEVYING OF A TAX INPAYMENT THEREOF FOR WATER SUPPLY AND SANI-TARY SEWER REPAIRS, IMPROVEMENTS ANDEXTENSIONS, INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY REPAIRS,IMPROVEMENTS, AND EXTENSIONS AT MERLINDRIVE, LUPTON DRIVE, THE CEDARWOOD SECTION2 AREA, THE BRACHER AREA, THE TERESA-BEN HURAREA, THE HILLDALE/BADE/ADKINS AREA, THE VOSSROAD AREA, SPRING OAKS EAST, SPRING OAKSWEST, BURKHART ROAD, AND OTHER MISCELLA-NEOUS AREAS WITHIN THE CITY. (FOR OR AGAINST)
City of Spring Valley Village, Texas PROPOSI-TION III: THE ISSUANCE OF $700,000 GENERALOBLIGATION BONDS AND THE LEVYING OF A TAX INPAYMENT THEREOF FOR THE PURPOSE OF WATERSUPPLY SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED FORSURFACE WATER CONNECTIONS. (FOR OR AGAINST)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------HARRIS COUNTY BALLOT CONTINUED ON PAGE • 24
HARRIS COUNTY2010 MID-TERM ELECTION CANDIDATES & INITIATIVES CONTINUED FROM • 20
THE CHECK MARKS ON THIS SAMPLE BALLOT PAGE REPRESENTS THE 2010 MIDTERM PREDICTIONS OF A SELECT READER GROUP
OF HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS READERS AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE OPINION OF THE PUBLISHER OR SUPPORTERS.
2010 MIDTERM RECOMMENDATIONS, SAMPLE BALLOT & PROPOSITIONSeMAIL: NEWS@HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM
RECOMMENDATIONS CONTINUED ON P.8
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Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITIONn 11•832.212.8735 • SERIES RELEASE DATES • OCT 1ST • OCT 8TH • OCT 15 TH • OCT 22ND • OCT 29 TH • WWW.PEOPLEDOINGBUSINESS.COM • 5
Damon Crenshaw has 24 years of legal experience representing people from all walks of life, small businesses and international business entities. Because he has counseled both plaintiffs and defendants, he will bring a sense of fairness and understanding to the bench. As Judge, he would be committed to fairness for all parties, regardless of status.
EXPERIENCE• Graduate South Texas College of Law
and Texas A&M University• 24 years of civil trial experience• Representation of both plaintiffs
and defendants • Private practice involving
matters of personal injury, workers’compensation, consumer protection, products liability and general civil issues
• Certified mediator presiding over varied civil matters
• Member, Houston Bar Association andHouston Trial Lawyers Association
COMMITMENT• Life-long Democrat and Sustaining Member
of the Harris County Democratic Party• Member of Harris County Democrats,
Harris County Democratic LawyersAssociation, Houston Black American Democrats, Harris County Tejano Democrats, Stonewall Democrats,Asian American Democrats of Texas, Heights Democrats
www.DamonCrenshawForJudge.com3730 Kirby Drive, Suite 1200, #186
Houston, Texas 77098Damon@DamonCrenshawForJudge.com
Tel: 713-528-5932
Pol. ad. paid for by Damon Crenshaw for Judge Campaign, Damon Crenshaw Treasurer.In compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.
IMPORTANT DATES:October 4, 2010 - Last Day to Regiser to VoteOctober 18, 2010 - First Day of Early VotingOctober 26, 2010 - First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail
(Received, not Postmarked)
October 29, 2010 - Last Day of Early VotingTuesday, November 2nd • General Election
DAMON CRESHAW’S ENDORSEMENTS: “Houston Chronicle”, Association of Women Attorneys, Pasadena Bar Association,
Katy Bar Association, The Baptist Ministers’ Association of Houston & Vicinity, Northeast Harris County Ministers Alliance, Houston
GLBT Political Caucus, Stonewall Young Democrats.
12 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
THE NEXT EDITION OF HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER WILL BE PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2010 • AUBREY R TAYLOR
Call (832)212.8735 to advertise!
24 • WWW.HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM •832.212.8735 • SERIES RELEASE DATES • OCT 1ST • OCT 8TH • OCT 15 TH • OCT 22ND • OCT 29 TH
Channelview IndependentSchool District Board ofTrustee Election
Channelview ISD Trustee, Position No. 4
Patrick Lacy
Channelview ISD Trustee, Position No. 5
Rolando Ramirez
Channelview ISD Trustee, Position No. 6
J. Kyle Campbell
Channelview ISD Trustee, Position No. 7
Dowen Sims
Kathy Zigmont
E.B. Garcia
Crosby Independent SchoolDistrict, General ElectionCrosby ISD Trustee, Position 1
Tanya Shaye Eagleton
Crosby ISD Trustee, Position 2
Ruben Leal
JoAnn Crawford
Crosby ISD Trustee, Position 3
John Lindsey
Crosby ISD Trustee, Position 6
Dan Kasprzak
Cedric Patterson, Jr.
Will Locke
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD General ElectionCypress-Fairbanks ISD Trustee, Position 5
Bill Henderson
John Ogletree
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Trustee, Position 6
Brad West
Don Ryan
Kay Smith
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Trustee, Position 7
Scott Adams
Bob R. Covey
Houston ISD Trustee Special Election
Houston ISD Trustee, District 8 (Unexpired Term)
Dorothy Olmos
Judith Cruz
Juliet Kathy Stipeche
Cheryl Moodie
Peter B. Schwethelm
Roberto Centeno
Huffman Independent SchoolDistrict School Trustee Election
Huffman ISD School Trustee, Position No. 1
Becky Streetman
Huffman ISD School Trustee, Position No. 2
Bruce W. Johnson
Jacob Godoy
Huffman ISD School Trustee, Position No. 3
Ray Burt
Huffman ISD School Trustee, Position No. 6,UNEXPIRED TERM
Matt Dutton
Katy Independent SchoolDistrict, Bond Election
Katy ISD, PROPOSITION: THE ISSUANCE OF$459,795,000 SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS FOR THECONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION AND EQUIPMENTOF SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN THE DISTRICT (INCLUD-ING THE REHABILITATION, RENOVATION ANDIMPROVEMENT THEREOF) AND THE PURCHASE OFTHE NECESSARY SITES FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGSAND THE PURCHASE OF NEW SCHOOL BUSES,AND THE LEVYING OF THE TAX IN PAYMENTTHEREOF. (FOR OR AGAINST)
Klein ISD School BoardTrustee Election
Klien ISD Trustee, Position 6
Paul Lanham
Mark D. Taylor
Larry Allen
Johanna Ramos Dawson
Kein ISD Trustee, Position 7
Steven E. Smith
W. R. (Rick) Mann
Kevin Weido
James B. Robinson
North Forest Independent SchoolDistrict School Board Election
North Forest ISD Trustee, Position 6
Carolyn Bullard-Williams
Henry McGowen
North Forest ISD Trustee, Position 7
Horace Williams, Jr.
Sheldon Independent SchoolDistrict Trustee Election
Sheldon ISD Trustee Position 4
Fred R. Rivas, Jr.
Sheldon ISD Trustee Position 5
Ken Coleman
Michael Davis
Debra Gilstrap
Sheldon ISD Trustee Position 6
Ed Lipscomb
Shane Schultz
Sheldon ISD Trustee Position 7
Fedora Alfred
LaShonda M. Jackson-Dean
Debbie Kolacny
Spring Independent SchoolDistrict General Trustee Election
Spring ISD Trustee, Position 1
Lora Lee Hedrick
Deborah Jensen
Scott Brittain
Ruth Watson
Spring ISD Trustee, Position 2
Steven E. Mills
Calvin K. Tang
Nicole Murray
Spring ISD Trustee, Position 3
Sean M. Perrodin
Justine Durant
Tomball ISD Trustee Election
Tomball ISD Trustee, Position 1
Kathy Handler
Tomball ISD Trustee, Position 2
David H. Zuhlke
Michael J. Pratt
William A. Harris
Tomball ISD Trustee, Position 3
John E. McStravick
Tomball ISD Trustee, Position 4
Mark Lewandowski
Waller-Harris EmergencyServices District No. 200 Election
Waller-Harris Emergency Services District No. 200,Board of Emergency Services CommissionersVote for None, 1, 2 or 3
Kollye W. Kilpatrick
Larry Coleman
Tommy Albert
Gary Ferguson
Tom Garbett
Darwin Hargrave, Sr.
Shannon Barron
Hollis H. Ulbricht
Beechnut Municipal Utility District,MAINTENANCE TAX ELECTION
Beechnut Municipal Utility District, Proposition:SHALL THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BEECHNUTMUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TOASSESS, LEVY, AND COLLECT AN ANNUAL AD VAL-OREM TAX ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHINSAID DISTRICT NOT TO EXCEED FIFTY CENTS($0.50) ON EACH ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR ($100.00)VALUATION THEREOF, TO SECURE FUNDS FOROPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PURPOSES,INCLUDING FUNDS FOR PLANNING, CONSTRUCT-ING, ACQUIRING, MAINTAINING, REPAIRING, ANDOPERATING ALL NECESSARY LAND, PLANTS,WORKS, FACILITIES, IMPROVEMENTS, APPLIANCES,AND EQUIPMENT OF THE DISTRICT AND FOR PAY-ING COSTS OF PROPER SERVICES, ENGINEERING,AND LEGAL FEES, AND ORGANIZATION AND ADMIN-ISTRATIVE EXPENSES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THECONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OFTEXAS, INCLUDING PARTICULARLY (BUT NOT BYWAY OF LIMITATION) SECTION 49.107 OF THE TEXASWATER CODE, AS AMENDED? (FOR OR AGAINST)
HARRIS COUNTY2010 MID-TERM ELECTION CANDIDATES & INITIATIVES CONTINUED FROM • 22
THE CHECK MARKS ON THIS SAMPLE BALLOT PAGE REPRESENTS THE 2010 MIDTERM PREDICTIONS OF A SELECT READER GROUP
OF HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS READERS AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE OPINION OF THE PUBLISHER OR SUPPORTERS.
2010 MIDTERM RECOMMENDATIONS, SAMPLE BALLOT & PROPOSITIONSeMAIL: NEWS@HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM
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Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITIONn 13•832.212.8735 • SERIES RELEASE DATES • OCT 1ST • OCT 8TH • OCT 15 TH • OCT 22ND • OCT 29 TH • WWW.PEOPLEDOINGBUSINESS.COM • 7
PEAKED E M O C R A T
SANDRA
For Judge, 257thFamily District Court
• Professional Memberships: State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association, Houston Lawyers Association, The Family Law Group • Licenses: State Bar of Texas, U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Texas • Education: Doctor of Jurisprudence, University of Houston College of Law, B.A., University of Houston • Experience: 27 yearsprivate practice experience, certified mediator, past instructor, hearing examiner • Community: Blue Triangle Multi-CulturalAssociation, Delta Sigma Theta Public Service Sorority, Jack & Jill of America, Inc., Texas Spring Cypress Chapter, Links, Inc., volunteer and referral attorney for several non-profit organizations • Personal and Family: Married to David G. Peake, two children, Houston area residents for 35 years • VOTE SANDRA PEAKE FOR JUDGE, 257TH FAMILY DISTRICT COURT!
ELECTION DAY IS TUES., NOV. 2ND!Early Voting begins on Monday, October 18th and Ends on Friday, October 29th!
“I have practiced before these Courts for more than 27 years and am sensitive to the unique issues thatarise in family law cases. I believe the citizens of Harris County deserve consistent application of the law,courtesy and fairness. I am up to the challenge of ensuring judicial excellence by ruling decisively andwith impartiality.” SANDRA PEAKE CANDIDATE FOR JUDGE, 257TH FAMILY DISTRICT COURT!
For more information contact: Sandra J. Peake at:Email: Sandrapeake@aol.com I Tel: (713) 723-5082 • Fax: (713)723-5085
S A N D R A P E A K E F O R J U D G E . C O MIn voluntary compliance with the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act. Political ad paid for by the Sandra J. Peake for Judge Campaign. David G. Peake Treasurer, 9660 Hillcroft, Suite 435, Houston, Texas 77096
14 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
By Aubrey R. Taylor
Houston Business Connections Newspaper
he largest abortion center in the
United States of America is lo-
cated right in Houston, Texas.
Did you know that? And guess
what? The six-story office building with a
78,000 square foot abortion mill, complete
with a surgical wing for late-term abortions is
the number one concern for Michael
Mauldin, the Candidate taking on State Sena-
tor Rodney Ellis in the 13th Senate District.
LIFE IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE ON MAULDIN’S MIND
Michael Mauldin, didn’t enter politics
because he wanted attention. He didn’t enter
it because Texas is the strongest Republican
state in the nation. He didn’t enter it because
the people of Texas have entrusted his party
with the stewardship of every statewide
elected office and majorities in the state sen-
ate, state house and on the state board of edu-
cation. Nor did he enter it because his party
now has majorities in 107 Texas counties that
contain nearly two-thirds of the state’s popu-
lation. As a matter of fact, Mauldin knows
that the district for which he’s running is
drawn to favor his opponent.
However, Mauldin a candidate for Texas
State Senate entered it because he is con-
cerned about what he’s seeing take place in
the world, our nation, our state, and right in
the district where he lives. “Life is an issue
near and dear to my heart,” says Mauldin.
“Not just because I was nearly aborted, when
my mother sat in a clinic about to go through
with the procedure. Not just because the
world’s second largest abortion-providing fa-
cility is erected in the district (Senate District
13) for which I’m running. And certainly not
because by saying I’ll go to Austin and fight-
ing the current laws, that Pro-Lifers might fill
up my campaign coffers with donations,” he
says. “Make no mistake about it! The issue of
life is dear to my heart because life is sacred
and valuable,” Maudlin explains.
“ The life of the unborn child, and the
life of the pregnant woman who finds herself
in such a difficult spot, are the ones I’m fight-
ing for. And my fight for them will continue
long after the 2010 Midterm Elections are in
the history books,” he says.
“In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court’s rul-
ing in Roe v. Wade determined that a
woman’s constitutional right to privacy in-
cludes the right to decide the outcome of her
pregnancy. Year after year, candidates prom-
ise to take up the legal fight to overturn the
law. But 37 years later, the law remains. And
all of our impassioned cries and righteous in-
dignation haven’t managed to prevent the
more than 50,000,000 abortions that have been
executed in that time,” Mauldin goes on to say.
“But the truth is, real change won’t hap-
pen in the courtroom or on the floor of the
Texas Senate. Real change happens one-on-
one. It happens when caring people are will-
ing to hear a pregnant woman’s concerns,
help alleviate her fears and share her burden.”
DO YOU WANT REAL CHANGE?
“Real change happens when a woman
understands what’s going on inside her body.
It happens when she gets hard, undeniable
scientific evidence about how early her baby
begins developing. It happens when she sees
4D ultrasound showing her, live and in color,
the life that is now a part of her. It happens
when she learns of the physical and emo-
tional affects abortion will have on her
body…often for the rest of her life. It hap-
pens when she finds out that adoption isn’t
giving up her child or abandoning her baby.
But rather that it is a heroic act of love to
help choose a home for that baby and to give
a waiting couple the child they’ve been want-
ing,” says Mauldin.
Mauldin says, he’s not here to condemn
anyone. He only wants to empower positive
solutions. “There are pregnancy resource cen-
ters designed to assist these women; help
them when they’re in bad relationships; help
them with material assistance; help them with
parenting classes and nutrition classes. There
are also adoption agencies trying to find chil-
dren for waiting couples,” there are options
says Mauldin.
According to Mauldin, statistics show
that upon seeing a 4D ultrasound image of
the baby inside of her, 80% of the abortion-
minded women will choose life.
LACK OF RESOURCES A MAJOR PROBLEM
“The only thing limiting these pregnancy
centers is a lack of resources. The only thing
preventing adoption agencies from reaching
their full potential is a lack of resources. The
only thing keeping every pregnant woman
from seeing a 4D ultrasound of her womb is a
lack of resources,” he says.
“We don’t need to wait on a law to fix
that. If the community isn’t strong enough to
be there for these women, then often, they’ll
think abortion is their only recourse. That’s
not much of choice is it?... So let’s get busy.
It is a woman’s body. It is her choice. So let’s
make sure every woman has the information
she needs to a make a healthy choice she can
live with.”
MAULDIN ON JOBS AND THE ECONOMY
“There are chambers in the heart of Hous-
ton suffering in the wake of the pummeling
Wall Street laid on Main Street. The citizens of
District 13 weren’t responsible for the strug-
gling, sputtering economy, but we’re sure pay-
ing the price of real estate bubbles and bank
failures. As our working class tries to resusci-
tate itself, it is burdened with the weight of
property taxes, and other artery-clogging con-
straints to progress,” says Mauldin.
“Let’s face it, money is the lifeblood of
any economy. And the only way an economy
thrives is if money is circulating through the
entire system, reaching any and all who need
its nourishment. The people of District 13 are
hungry to contribute, but we can’t live,
thrive, and survive without jobs. We must
focus our efforts on the economically under-
developed areas of District 13 by establishing
“Free Enterprise Zones,” areas where tax
credits can be used to create small busi-
nesses…businesses with a chance to grow
and prosper…businesses that will provide
jobs and productivity.”
MAULDIN ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
“Most Texans would consider “tough on
crime” a matter of pride. But we have a
shameful system that almost ensures crimi-
nals will continue to take a toll on our com-
munity long after the offense that lands them
in prison. Without decent jobs, 75% of for-
merly incarcerated persons will end up back
in prison. What’s more, 85% of their kids
will end up there as well. These statistics are
deplorable!
Fortunately, there is a readymade system
called the Freedom Exchange that can break
this disheartening cycle.
If we re-educate, empower and employ
formerly incarcerated persons, and finan-
cially “insure” them in case of re-lapse, we
can have them contributing to the community
they once violated, rather than continuing to
be a drain on the taxpayer. In fact, this pro-
gram would generate money for the state!
Imagine that: a governmental solution that
actually brings money in.
MAULDIN’S 5-POINT PLAN TO MAKE THINGS BETTER
n1. Jobs and the Economy: The pri-
mary focus needs to be on the economically
underdeveloped areas of District 13 by estab-
lishing “Free Enterprise Zones”. These
“Zones” are areas where tax credits would be
used to create small businesses which will
work to prosper, grow, and add responsibility
and productive work ethic to those struggling
communities.
Reducing property taxes is also a must,
especially for the elderly.
Reducing taxes on small businesses as a
whole just makes common sense, and reduc-
ing government spending to fit the budget is
common sense as well.
n2. Criminal Justice System: We
have a system that perpetuates the cycle of
poverty in the community. 75% of formerly
incarcerated persons will end up back in
prison without descent jobs and 85% of their
kids will end up in prison as well. These sta-
tistics are deplorable and speak to the fact
that the system is not working! There is a
readymade system called the Freedom Ex-
change which will break this cycle, re-edu-
cate, empower, and employ formerly
incarcerated persons, financially “insure”
them in case of re-lapse, and to top it off, this
program would generate money for the state!
A Governmental solution that actually gener-
ates money instead of just depleting the tax
payer funded budget. This will not only
prosper the community, but will make com-
munities safer and help to restore families.
n3. Honest Elections: Bottom line is
we need a Voter ID. Anyone who is not for
identification when voting needs their inten-
tions examined. You need ID to fly on a
plane, enter the YMCA, and write checks just
to name a few. The fact that we have the right
to vote in this great nation should be one of the
most sacred rights we have and it should be
protected at all costs! I personally know mul-
tiple people who have witnessed voter fraud in
Harris County. This must be stopped!
n4. Life: This one is dear to my heart,
not only because I was almost aborted, not
because there have been over 50 million
abortions in America since the 60’s, not be-
cause the world’s second largest abortion
clinic has been built in this district, but be-
cause life is sacred and valuable! I’m not
here to condemn anyone, but to empower
positive solutions. For too long we have
been told that we have no purpose and are
just products of random chance, but that
could not be further from the truth. Every
life is valuable and created for a purpose and
those people in District 13 are no different!
They may have been “chosen” as the best
place for an abortion supercenter because
“they” see the most potential clients, but I see
District 13 as the “chosen” place to raise up a
people of purpose and destiny to make a
mark for good in the world! This will hap-
pen! We must empower organizations such
as The Source Center for Women and adop-
tion centers.
n5. Education: Our system is not even
close to competing with the emerging mar-
kets. Dropout rates are unacceptable. As the
emerging markets out educate our kids we
will become subservient to them if we don’t
increase the standards and multiply the mod-
els that are working.
MORE ABOUT MICHAEL MAULDINMichael Mauldin is the Republican
nominee for Texas State Senator District 13.
However, Mauldin is committed to State Dis-
trict 13 far beyond the Election Day results.
Recognizing the urgency of the times,
Michael has felt a calling, from both the com-
munity and his faith, to stand up and make a
difference. His presence on the ballot gives
voters – for the first time in nearly two
decades – a clear choice: a jobless, degree-
less, hopeless status quo, or a courageous
new direction based on thoughtful solutions
and accountability.
A product of Houston’s Spring Branch
School District, Michael went on to study com-
munications and theology at the University of
St. Thomas. Following college, Michael’s ca-
reer path has included several U.S. stops as
well as time in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Along the way he came to appreciate the sig-
nificance of adversity and self-sacrifice as he
cared for his cancer-stricken father and at-
tended to orphans in the West Bank.
A return to the States brought success as
an investment realtor. But as the subprime
meltdown began to take its toll, Michael
again turned to those in need, collaborating
with attorneys and forensic loan investigators
to help victims of predatory lenders avoid
foreclosure and find justice. Today he plies
his experience in the financial services sector,
helping families overcome the effects of the
recent economic downturn.
Saving The Lives Of The UnbornNumber One Issue For MauldinT
n Michael and his wife
Meredith are active members
at New Life Church, where
she leads worship. They are
the proud parents of a new
baby girl, Ellia Grace.
Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITIONn 15
16 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
BOUT THE REPUBLICAN: Mayor Allen Owen is Missouri City’s tenth mayor since
the City’s incorporation back in 1956. Mayor Owen’s profile shows his family’s long
term residence of over 32 years in this community…a place he calls home. This
is where Mayor Owen continues to dedicate much of his time and expertise to-
wards the development of a community he and his wife of 42 years, Jane,
reared their three children. Before his mayoral office, whose tenure began in 1994,
Mayor Owen served as a Planning and Zoning Commissioner for five years and later
as a Council Member for eight years having also served as Mayor Pro Tem.
n THE DEMOCRAT: Ron E. Reynolds, a candidate for Fort Bend County’s State
Representative House District 27, is a long time resident of Fort Bend County who
grew up in Missouri City. He is a product of Fort Bend County public schools, Blue
Ridge Elementary and Quail Valley Middle School. He went on to attend Texas
Southern University and received a B.S. degree in Public Affairs, “magna
cum laude”. Ron received a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech
University School of Law.
Ron is a successful small business owner of a title company and
is a name partner in the Brown, Brown & Reynolds, P.C., law firm.
He is a former Associate Municipal Judge for The City of Houston
and TSU Adjunct Professor (College of Public Affairs).
Ron has written numerous articles relative to Consumer
Rights, Civil Rights, Civic Engagement, and Employment
Law because he embodies an inherent responsibility for
keeping the community abreast of current issues that
impact their lives.
Ron believes that by investing in the community, he
has made a positive impact on the business and eco-
nomic base in Fort Bend County. Commensurate with
the belief, to whom much is given, much is required;
Ron has devoted his life to serving the community. Some
of his civic and other affiliations include but are not lim-
ited to the following:
• President, NAACP Missouri City & Ft. Bend Vicinity Branch
•Vice President, Fort Bend Democrats
•Parliamentarian, Sienna Democrats
•Brookhollow Baptist Church, Legal Ministry Chair
• Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class 2007
• Past President, Houston Lawyer’s Association
• 100 Black Men of America – Houston Chapter
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• Mason, Prince Hall Ever Ready Lodge
• Board member, Houston Citizen’s Chamber of Commerce
• Board member, Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce
• Board member, Jazz Education, Inc.
• Constable Ruben Davis Advisory Council
• Co-Chair Fort Bend International Festival and Mayor’s Jazz Brunch
• Fort Bend ISD Bond Advisory Committee
• Fort Bend County Democratic Party, sustaining member
• Houston Area Urban League
• Member of Fort Bend Democratic Club and Black Dems
• Legal Counsel for Houston Black Expo and a non-profit
organization benefiting sickle-cell research
• Texas Parkway Alliance
•Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce
Ron has won and been recognized for numerous honors and awards:
• Recipient of the Missouri City Juneteenth Community Service Award
• Ever Ready Lodge 2007 Trailblazer’s Award
• Named “Houston’s Top Attorney” by H Texas Magazine
• American Red Cross Humanitarian Award
• YMCA Minority Achievers Award
• MLK Drum Major For Justice Award
• NAACP ALEX Award for Legal Excellence
• 2 time HCCC Business Pinnacle Award winner
• Named Houston’s Top 40 Leaders Under 40
• EEOC Civil Rights All-Star Award
• Senator Rodney Ellis Texas Leader of the Future Award
• Who’s Who in Law and Who’s Who in Black Houston
Reynolds with wife Dr. Jonita Wallace Reynolds and daughter, Lacey Ronee.
“As State Representative of District 27, I will serve the residents and
business owners in Fort Bend County by advocating for high-quality
education, affordable health care, and economic empowerment
in our community.”
Above all his accomplishments Ron is most proud and grateful for
his family. He is married to Dr. Jonita Wallace Reynolds
and has one daughter, Lacey Ronee Reynolds, age 6.
A Republican & Democrat Working Together
To Make Fort Bend County-Area A Better
Place To Live, Work & Play
A
Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITIONn 17•832.212.8735 • SERIES RELEASE DATES • OCT 1ST • OCT 8TH • OCT 15 TH • OCT 22ND • OCT 29 TH • WWW.PEOPLEDOINGBUSINESS.COM • 13
DEMOCRAT RON REYNOLDS SET TO BECOME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN HD- 27 STATE REPRESENTATIVE SINCE RECONSTRUCTIONEARLY VOTING BEGINS ON MONDAY, OCTOBER, 18, 2010! • VOTE FOR RON REYNOLDS ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND!
18 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
HE PRESIDENT:
Good morning, every-
body. I just had a
meeting with Treasury Secre-
tary Tim Geithner, Secretary
of Transportation Ray La-
Hood, and governors like Ed
Rendell, mayors like Antonio
Villaraigosa, and economists
and engineers from across the
country to discuss one of
America’s greatest chal-
lenges: our crumbling infra-
structure and the urgent need
to put Americans back to
work upgrading it for the 21st
century.We’re also joined today by two former
Transportation Secretaries of both political
parties: Sam Skinner, who served under Presi-
dent George H.W. Bush; and Norm Mineta,
who served in the Cabinets of both President
Clinton and President George W. Bush.
They’re here today because they are passion-
ate about this task.
Their cooperation –- and indeed, this
country’s very history –- proves that this is
something for which there has traditionally
been broad bipartisan support. So Sam and
Norm have been leading a bipartisan group of
more than 80 experts who, just last week, re-
leased a call to action demanding a “funda-
mental overhaul” of how America approaches
funding and building our infrastructure. And
today, my Treasury Department and my Coun-
cil of Economic Advisors have released our
own study.
And these reports confirm what any
American can already tell you: our infrastruc-
ture is woefully inefficient and it is outdated.
For years, we have deferred tough decisions,
and today, our aging system of highways and
byways, air routes and rail lines hinder our
economic growth. Today, the average Ameri-
can household is forced to spend more on
transportation each year than food. Our roads,
clogged with traffic, cost us $80 billion a year
in lost productivity and wasted fuel. Our air-
ports, choked with passengers, cost nearly $10
billion a year in productivity losses from flight
delays. And in some cases, our crumbling in-
frastructure costs American lives. It should
not take another collapsing bridge or failing
levee to shock us into action.
So we’re already paying for our failure to
act. And what’s more, the longer our infra-
structure erodes, the deeper our competitive
edge erodes. Other nations understand this.
They are going all-in. Today, as a percentage
of GDP, we invest less than half of what Rus-
sia does in their infrastructure, less than one-
third of what Western Europe does. Right
now, China’s building hundreds of thousands
of miles of new roads. Over the next 10 years,
it plans to build dozens of new airports. Over
the next 20, it could build as many as 170 new
mass transit systems. Everywhere else,
they’re thinking big. They’re creating jobs
today, but they’re also playing to win tomor-
row. So the bottom line is our shortsighted-
ness has come due. We can no longer afford
to sit still.
What we need is a smart system of infra-
structure equal to the needs of the 21st cen-
tury. A system that encourages sustainable
communities with easier access to our jobs, to
our schools, to our homes. A system that de-
Remarks by the President onRebuilding America's
Infrastructure
PRESIDENT OBAMA
T
Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITIONn 19
creases travel time and increases mobility. A system
that cuts congestion and ups productivity. A system
that reduces harmful emissions over time and creates
jobs right now.
So we’ve already begun on this task. The Recov-
ery Act included the most serious investment in our
infrastructure since President Eisenhower built the In-
terstate Highway System in the 1950s. And we’re not
just talking new and restored roads and bridges and
dams and levees, but we’re also talking a smart elec-
tric grid and the high-speed internet and rail lines re-
quired for America to compete in the 21st century
economy. We’re talking about investments with im-
pacts both immediate and lasting.
Tens of thousands of projects employing hun-
dreds of thousands of workers are already underway
across America. We’re improving 40,000 miles of
road, and rebuilding water and sewer systems. We’re
implementing a smarter, more stable, more secure
electric grid across 46 states that will increase access
to renewable sources of energy and cut costs for cus-
tomers. We’re moving forward with projects that
connect communities across the country to broadband
internet, and connect 31 states via a true high-speed
rail network. And what’s more, a great many of these
projects are coming in under budget.
By investing in these projects, we’ve already cre-
ated hundreds of thousands of jobs. But the fact re-
mains that nearly one in five construction workers is
still unemployed and needs a job. And that makes ab-
solutely no sense at a time when there is so much of
America that needs rebuilding.
So that’s why, last month, I announced a new
plan for upgrading America’s roads, rails and runways
for the long-term. Over the next six years, we will re-
build 150,000 miles of our roads -- enough to circle
the world six times. We will lay and maintain 4,000
miles of our railways -- enough to stretch from coast
to coast. And we will restore 150 miles of runways
and advance a next generation air-traffic control sys-
tem that reduces delays for the American people.
This plan will be fully paid for. It will not add to
our deficit over time. And we are going to work with
Congress to see to that. It will establish an infrastruc-
ture bank to leverage federal dollars and focus on the
smartest investments. We want to cut waste and bu-
reaucracy by consolidating and collapsing more than
100 different, often duplicative programs. And it will
change the way Washington works by reforming the
federal government’s patchwork approach of funding
and maintaining our infrastructure. We’ve got to
focus less on wasteful earmarks, outdated formulas.
We’ve got to focus more on competition and innova-
tion; less on shortsighted political priorities, and more
on our national economic priorities.
So investing in our infrastructure is something
that members of both political parties have always
supported. It’s something that groups ranging from
the Chamber of Commerce to the AFL-CIO support
today. And by making these investments across the
country, we won’t just make our economy run better
over the long haul -- we will create good, middle-
class jobs right now.
So there is no reason why we can’t do this.
There is no reason why the world’s best infrastructure
should lie beyond our borders. This is America.
We’ve always had the best infrastructure. This is
work that needs to be done. There are workers who
are ready to do it. All we need is the political will.
This is a season for choices, and this is the choice:
between choice -- between decline and prosperity, and
between the past and the future.
Our future has never been predestined. It has
been built on the hard work and sacrifices of previous
generations. They invested yesterday for what we
have today. That’s how we built canals, and railroads,
and highways, and ports that allowed our economy to
grow by leaps and bounds. That’s how we led the
world in the pursuit of new technologies and innova-
tions. That’s what allowed us to build the middle
class and lead the global economy in the 20th century.
And if we’re going to lead it in the 21st, that’s the vi-
sion we can’t afford to lose sight of right now. That’s
the challenge that’s fallen to this generation. That’s
the challenge that this country is going to meet. And
with the help of these gentlemen behind me, and I
hope strong bipartisan support, I have no doubt that
we will meet these challenges.
Thank you very much, everybody.
By investing in these projects, we’ve already created hundreds of
thousands of jobs. But the fact remains that nearly one in five con-
struction workers is still unemployed and needs a job. And that
makes absolutely no sense at a time when there is so much of Amer-
ica that needs rebuilding.
}
}
20 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
EXECUTIVE ORDER: President Barack Obama looks over to Javier Garcia of
Brownsville, Texas, after Garcia introduced him at the signing ceremony for the Execu-
tive Order on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans in the East Room of the
White House, October 19, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
y the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, to restore the country to its role as the
global leader in education, to strengthen the Na-
tion by expanding educational opportunities and improving ed-
ucational outcomes for Hispanics and Latinos (Hispanics) of all
ages, and to help ensure that all Hispanics receive an education
that properly prepares them for college, productive careers, and
satisfying lives, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. At more than 52 million strong, includ-
ing 4 million in Puerto Rico, Hispanics constitute the country’s
largest and fastest growing minority group. They have had a
profound and positive impact on our country through, among
other things, their community’s strong commitment to family,
faith, hard work, and service. Many Hispanics contribute to
this Nation bilingually in the English and Spanish languages —
a true asset for our country in an increasingly global, interde-
pendent world.
Hispanic students are the largest minority group in our Na-
tion’s schools, numbering more than 11 million in our public el-
ementary and secondary school system, and constituting more
than 22 percent of all pre-K–12 students. Hispanic students
face educational challenges of crisis proportions. Fewer than
half of all Hispanic children participate in early childhood edu-
cation programs, and far too few Hispanic students graduate
from high school; of those who do complete high school, many
are not adequately prepared for college. Only 12 percent of
adult Hispanics have a bachelor’s degree, and just 3 percent
have completed graduate or professional degree programs. At
the same time, large numbers of Hispanic adults lack the educa-
tion or literacy skills they need to advance their careers; they
also are less likely than members of other groups to have taken
job- or career-related courses, with the exception of basic edu-
cation classes, such as English as a second language.
Our country was built on and continues to thrive on its di-
versity, and there is no doubt that the future of the United States
is inextricably linked to the future of the Hispanic community.
To reach the ambitious education goals we have set for our Na-
tion, as well as to ensure equality of opportunity for all, we
must provide the opportunities that will enable Hispanic stu-
dents to raise their educational attainment at every level of the
American education system. America’s future competitiveness
in our global economy will be substantially enhanced by im-
proving educational outcomes for Hispanics.
Sec. 2. White House Initiative on
Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
(a) Establishment. There is established the White House
Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics (Initiative),
to be housed in the Department of Education (Department).
The mission of the Initiative shall be to help restore the United
States to its role as the global leader in education and to
strengthen the Nation by expanding educational opportunities
and improving educational outcomes for Hispanics of all ages
and by helping to ensure that all Hispanics receive a complete
and competitive education that prepares them for college, a ca-
reer, and productive and satisfying lives.
(b) Initiative Administration. There shall be an
Executive Director of the Initiative, to be appointed by the Sec-
retary of Education (Secretary). The Initiative shall be advised
by the Commission established under section 3 of this order
and supported by the Working Group established under subsec-
tion (c) of this section. The Department shall provide the staff,
resources, and assistance for the Initiative and the Working
Group. To the extent permitted by law, departments, agencies,
and offices represented on the Working Group shall provide re-
sources, including personnel detailed to the Initiative, to assist
the Department in meeting the objectives of this order.
(c) Interagency Working Group.
(1) There is established the Federal Interagency Work-
ing Group on Educational Excellence for Hispanics
(Working Group), which shall be convened and chaired
by the Initiative’s Executive Director.
(2) The Working Group shall consist of senior officials
from the Department, the White House Domestic Pol-
icy Council, the Department of Labor, and the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, as well as such
additional departments, agencies, and offices as the
President may designate. Senior officials shall be des-
ignated by the heads of their respective departments,
agencies, and offices.
(3)education, K−12 education, higher education, career
and technical education, language acquisition, and
adult education.
Executive Order—White HouseInitiative On Educational
Excellence For HispanicsB
CONTINUED ON P.22
Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITIONn 21
22 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
(d) Initiative Objectives.
(1) education for all Hispanics, the Initiative shall, con-
sistent with law, promote, encourage, and undertake ef-
forts designed to meet the following objectives:
(i) increasing general understanding of the causes of
the educational challenges faced by Hispanic students;
(ii) increasing the percentage of Hispanic children
who enter kindergarten ready for success by improving
access by Hispanics to high-quality programs and serv-
ices that encourage the early learning and development
of children from birth through age 5;
(iii) implementing successful and innovative education
reform strategies and practices in America’s public
schools to ensure that Hispanic students, like their
peers, receive a rigorous and well-rounded education,
and have access to student support services that will
prepare them for college, a career, and civic participa-
tion;
(iv) ensuring that all Hispanic students have access to
excellent teachers and school leaders, in part by sup-
porting efforts to improve the recruitment, preparation,
development, and retention of successful Hispanic
teachers and school leaders and other effective teachers
and school leaders responsible for the education of His-
panic students;
(v) reducing the dropout rate of Hispanic students and
helping Hispanic students graduate from high school
prepared for college and a career, in part by promoting
a positive school climate and supporting successful and
innovative dropout prevention and recovery strategies
that better engage Hispanic youths in their learning,
help them catch up academically, and provide those
who have left the educational system with pathways to
reentry;
(vi) increasing college access and success for His-
panic students and providing support to help ensure
that a greater percentage of Hispanics complete college
and contribute to the goal of having America again lead
the world in the proportion of college graduates by
2020, in part through strategies to strengthen the capac-
ity of Hispanic-Serving Institutions, community col-
leges, and other institutions of higher education serving
large numbers of Hispanic students; and
(vii) enhancing the educational and life opportunities
of Hispanics by fostering positive family and commu-
nity engagement, improving the quality of, and expand-
ing access to, adult education, literacy, and career and
technical education, as well as increasing opportunities
for education and career advancement in the fields of
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(2) In working to fulfill its mission and objectives, the
Initiative shall, consistent with law:
(i) help ensure that Federal programs and initiatives
administered by the Department and other agencies are
serving and meeting the needs of Hispanic children,
youths, and adults;
(ii) work closely with the Executive Office of the
President on key Administration priorities related to the
education of Hispanics;
(iii) increase the Hispanic community’s participation
in, and capacity to participate in, the Department’s pro-
grams and education-related programs at other execu-
tive departments and agencies;
(iv) advise Department officials and, through the
Working Group, other agency officials on issues related
to the Hispanic community and the educational attain-
ment of Hispanic students;
(v) advise the Secretary on the development, imple-
mentation, and coordination of educational programs
and initiatives at the Department and other agencies de-
signed to improve educational opportunities and out-
comes for Hispanics of all ages;
(vi) encourage and develop partnerships with public,
private, philanthropic, and nonprofit stakeholders to
improve Hispanics’ readiness for school, college, and
career, as well as their college persistence and comple-
tion; and
(vii) develop a national network of individuals, organi-
zations, and communities to share and implement best
practices related to the education of Hispanics.
(3) The Initiative shall periodically publish reports on
its activities. The Secretary and the Executive Director
of the Initiative, in consultation with the Interagency
Working Group and the Chair of the Commission es-
tablished under section 3 of this order, may develop
and submit to the President recommendations designed
to advance and promote educational opportunities and
attainment for Hispanics, including recommendations
for short- and long-term initiatives.
(e) Collaboration Among White House Initiatives. The White
House Initiatives on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, His-
torically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and
Universities, and Asian-American and Pacific Islanders shall
work together whenever appropriate in light of their shared ob-
jectives.
Sec. 3. President’s Advisory Commis-sion on Educational Excellence for His-panics. There is established the President’s Advisory
Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics (Com-
mission) in the Department.
(a) Commission Mission and Scope. The Commission shall ad-
vise the President and the Secretary on matters pertaining to the
educational attainment of the Hispanic community, including:
(1) developing, implementing, and coordinating educa-
tional programs and initiatives at the Department and
other agencies to improve educational opportunities
and outcomes for Hispanics of all ages;
(2) increasing the participation of the Hispanic com-
munity and Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the Depart-
ment’s programs and in education programs at other
agencies;
(3) engaging the philanthropic, business, nonprofit,
and education communities in a national dialogue re-
garding the mission and objectives of this order; and
(4) establishing partnerships with public, private, phil-
anthropic, and nonprofit stakeholders to meet the mis-
sion and policy objectives of this order.
The Commission shall meet periodically, but at least twice a
year, and may work through task forces composed exclusively
of Commission members, as appropriate.
(b) Commission Membership and Chair.
(1) The Commission shall consist of no more than 30
members appointed by the President. The Commission
may include individuals with relevant experience or sub-
ject matter expertise that the President deems appropri-
ate, as well as individuals who may serve as
representatives of a variety of sectors, including the edu-
cation sector (early childhood education, elementary and
secondary education, higher education, career and tech-
nical education, and adult education), labor organiza-
tions, research institutions, corporate and financial
institutions, public and private philanthropic organiza-
tions, and nonprofit and community-based organizations
at the national, State, regional, or local levels.
(2) The President shall designate one of the members
to serve as Chair of the Commission, who shall work
with the Initiative’s Executive Director to convene reg-
ular meetings of the Commission, determine its agenda,
and direct its work, consistent with this order.
(c) Commission Administration. The Executive Director of the
Initiative shall also serve as the Executive Director of the Com-
mission and administer the work of the Commission. The De-
partment shall provide funding and administrative support for
the Commission, to the extent permitted by law. Members of
the Commission shall serve without compensation but shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsis-
tence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in
the Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707). Insofar as the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.)
(Act), may apply to the administration of the Commission, any
functions of the President under the Act, except that of report-
ing to the Congress, shall be performed by the Secretary, in ac-
cordance with the guidelines issued by the Administrator of
General Services.
Sec. 4. General Provisions.
(a) This order supersedes Executive Order 13230 of October
12, 2001.
(b) intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, sub-
stantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any
party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or en-
tities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 19, 2010.
At more than 52 million strong, including 4 million in Puerto Rico,Hispanics constitute the country’s largest and fastest growing minoritygroup. They have had a profound and positive impact on our countrythrough, among other things, their community’s strong commitment tofamily, faith, hard work, and service. Many Hispanics contribute to thisNation bilingually in the English and Spanish languages — a true assetfor our country in an increasingly global, interdependent world.
}
}
CONTINUED FROM P.20
Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010! - HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITIONn 23
VOTE FOR JULIET STIPECHE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010!
Juliet grew up in Houston’s Ease End, the daughter of immigrant parents. She graduated valedicto-
rian from the High School for the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. She then wen on to gradu-
ate magna cum laude from Rice University and earned her law degree from the University of Texas
Law Center. For more information see page 23 of this issue.
24 n HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - Don’t Forget To Vote On Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
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We shouldn’t have to worry about picking up our kids from school or getting home from work after a hard rain. That’s why we need to vote FOR Prop 1.
A pay-as-you-go plan to help prevent �ooding, create local jobs and save millions for taxpayers.
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vote FORPROPGood streets. Good drainage.
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