The Choices for District 132

I’m dusting off “Musings From Katy” for some comments on a very important election: The Republican Primary Runoff for District 132 (Ann Hodge vs. Mike Schofield).  Early voting starts on Monday May 19, and Election Day is Tuesday, May 27.  ANYONE can vote in this election (except those who voted in the 2014 Democratic Party Primary last March).  Frankly, this election will be decided in this run-off, so if you want your voice heard, you need to get to the polls for this election.  Your choice is between a 30-year community resident business leader and a district-shopping professional wanna-be politician.  

Ann Hodge’s resume is impressive, including being appointed by several Texas Governors to the Texas Workforce Investment Council, the Texas Council on Vocational Education and the Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness.   She is neither a professional candidate nor an ideologue.  Many entities and individuals, including the Houston Chronicle, have endorsed her.   See the list here.  You’ll notice it’s your neighbors and people who love Katy and Cy-Fair.  Her 30 years of living in and working for this area will serve District 132 well.

Mike Schofield, in contrast, has just moved here to run for office.  Don't misunderstand me; we are growing and I welcome our many newcomers.  The question is WHY did they move here?  What concerns me is that Mike Schofield has continuously been raising money for SOME State Rep job—he doesn’t seem to care which.  (See the bullets below.)  The Texas Constitution created a part-time, so-called citizen legislature, which meets for a relatively brief 140 days every other year.   I understand Mr. Schofield has no day job but has been going door-to-door through the district charming people into putting his sign in their yard.  Ann Hodge has a job—running our local Chamber of Commerce.  She is what the Constitution had in mind—because she lives in, works in, and betters our community.  She will be a true Citizen Legislator.  Also, she knows the area well enough to know that wide swaths of Katy ISD and Cy-Fair ISD, while not in District 132, are important to District 132.  Bill Callegari understands this, as does John Zerwas and Glenn Hegar.  Mike Schofield has not spent any time learning about the broader Katy and Cy-Fair areas—they can’t vote for him so they are not worth his time.  

Mike Schofield has been funded and endorsed by lots of folks with zip codes other than those from our area, and has a long history of “District Shopping”.  The information below is from the Texas Ethics Commission.  Candidates who have any campaign funds on hand are required to file reports semi-annually (In January & July) and before elections.  They are a wealth of information about a candidate, sometimes in the questions that are raised by what they DON’T say. 

·       In his January 15, 2006 campaign finance report, he doesn’t know what office he is filing for (Box 12), but has $60,000 contributed to get him elected SOMEWHERE.   His address is listed as 10714 Overbrook Ln, a home near Westheimer and the Beltway, which property records list as owned by a Norma Garbizu in 2006.

·       In the 30 Days before the Election report, he finally reports he is running for State Rep for Dist. 133, near the Galleria.

·       His July semiannual report filed after he lost the primary election in 2006 shows he spent over $186,000 trying to win District 133.

·       All filings (annual and semi-annual) through Jan. 2012 continue to list his address as the house on Overbrook and that the office he is seeking is for District 133. 

·       Schofield eventually files to run for District 136, in the Memorial area.  In November 2011, maps are redrawn and District 136 is rolled into District 133.  Schofield does not appear on the primary ballot.  

·       In the January 2012 report, his address changes to an office address in Greenway Plaza, which is the same address as Blakemore & Associates, a political consulting firm.  He does not list any office that he is seeking.  However, he raises over $67,000 and spends nearly $34,000.  Why would people give money to him without knowing what office he is running for?  Or does he tell them what he’s running for but omits that information on the report?   His expenditures show he spent money for “travel in district” and for Filing Fees to the Harris County Republican Party, but we don’t know which district?!? 

·       In the July 2012 report, people are still donating but he doesn’t list an office that he is seeking, his address is still the office in Greenway Plaza, he’s traveling in the unnamed district and spending money on print advertizing (which you’d think would mention WHAT office he is running for).

·       For January 2013 and July 2013, he is sitting on about $20,000.  No change in address and he still doesn’t know what he’s running for.

·       On September 23, 2013, Bill Callegari announces he is retiring from District 132.  On September 25^th, Schofield rents a house in District 132. http://coveringkaty.com/2014/03/16/candidate-mike-schofield-covering-katy-investigation/

·       In his January, 2014, filing, Schofield finally lists District 132 as the one he is going after.  His address on campaign reports remains the Greenway Plaza office address. 

 

So, in 8 short years, Mike Schofield has moved to and filed for office in three different districts.  Do NOT let Mike Schofield use us this way!  Get out and VOTE!  Remember, you do not need to be a “registered Republican”—it doesn’t work that way in Texas.  Unless you voted in the 2014 Democratic Primary, you CAN and SHOULD vote in the Republican primary run-off. 

Early Voting is Monday, May 19 through Friday, May 23, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Locations are here: 

Teachers of the Year

Last week, I attended the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year luncheon, and had a wonderful time celebrating this year's best teachers. What an amazing group of teachers--they represent a small portion of the talented men and women who move mountains every day in our classrooms.  I was happy to have the opportunity to congratulate them on being chosen by their campus peers for this honor.

It was also great to be with a wonderful community of business leaders and elected officials that appreciates what teachers do for our kids and how the health of our school district impacts every aspect of our community, such as our home values, business income, availability of skilled workers, ready customers, informed electorate, etc.  Their generosity to these teachers is absolutely incredible, and reminds me that people other than students' parents recognize the importance of a strong school district.  Please say "thank you" to them for showing our Teachers of the Year that the Katy community is grateful for these dedicated educators.  For a list of sponsors, see here.  Also thank HEB Katy Market for beautiful floral arrangements, and Sam Schultze of Country Park Portraits for photographing the event.

Had a busy week; with highs and lows.  I'll start with highs: I volunteered last week preparing for the Chamber Gala, and enjoyed a wonderful evening celebrating the Volunteers of the Year (the ARC of Katy volunteers), the Business of the Year (CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital), and the Citizen of the Year (Ray Wolman.)  I appreciate very much that the Chamber focuses each year on people and organizations in our community that contribute to making the Katy Area a wonderful place to live.  

• The ARC volunteers are part of the ARC of Katy Adult Activity Day Program.  The program is for adults  in our community with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Part of the program is for the participants to volunteer in the community, and the City of Katy, Keep Katy Beautiful, Katy ISD, the Chamber, the Katy YMCA, and other organizations are served weekly by the participants, whose "Can Do" at positive attitude and generous outlook exemplify the spirit of volunteer service.  
• CHRISTUS St. Catherine gives back to the community in many ways, such as a Breast Cancer Walk, Mammogram Mondays, a vision program that provides exams and glasses to underserved students in Katy ISD, a Heart Run, Mobile Health Unit, etc.  They have a terrific Cardiac Care Unit that gave me back my husband.  'Nuff said.  I love them.  
• Ray Wolman is a terrific choice for Citizen of the Year.  He taught in Katy ISD for 40 years before retiring last year.  He started as the only science teacher at Katy High, back when it was a small 2-A district.  He has touched every student in the district if they ever went to the Outdoor Learning Center, which he ran for many years.  He is  a dedicated teacher, who helped over 50 Boy Scouts achieve Eagle Awards.   He works tirelessly to preserve our heritage through the Katy ISD Folk Life Festival, as well as the Katy Heritage Society, Katy FFA Rodeo Parade, etc.  His focus is on educating and empowering the citizens of our area to improve our environment.  His selection as "Citizen of the Year" was a real home run!

Lows will come in a separate post; suffice to say I'm proud to be a part of the Katy Community and appreciate the Chamber for sponsoring this event that allows us to reflect on the type of community we truly are.