WHO WOULD MAKE A BETTER MAYOR FOR HOUSTON TEXAS?
As of Sunday, November 22, 2015 Bill King is leading Sylvester Turner with 52% of the vote in the HBCN ONLINE POLL for the Saturday, December 12, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Runoff Election. This poll is being conducted by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, the publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper. To maintain the accuracy and integrity of this poll, all participants must request a "Special Code" to participate. Call (832)212-8735 if you have any questions or concerns about how this poll is being conducted.
HBC Reports
In case you haven’t heard, Sylvester Turner and Bill King proved themselves to be the top two candidates in a star-studded field of mayoral contenders who faced off in the race for Mayor of Houston, Texas back on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. The aforementioned field of candidates included: Adrian Garcia (third place finisher), Ben Hall (fourth place finisher), Chris Bell (fifth place finisher), Steve Costello (sixth place finisher), Hoc Thai Nguyen (seventh place finisher), Marty McVey (eighth place finisher), Demetria Smith (ninth place finisher), Victoria Lane (tenth place finisher), Rafael Munoz, Jr. (eleventh place finisher), Dale Steffes (twelfth place finisher), and Joe Ferreira (thirteenth place finisher).
Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, a Saturday, December 12, 2015 Runoff Election will now be held to decide who Houston’s next mayor should be.
RACE FOR MAYOR OF HOUSTON
TURNER VS. KING
Sylvester Turner will head into the Saturday, December 12, 2015 Runoff Election as the front-runner. Turner put on an impressive showing by garnering 81,637 votes (31.32%) of the overall voter turnout. Bill King earned the right to appear on the Saturday, December 12, 2015 Runoff Election ballot by garnering 65,866 votes (25.27%) of the overall turnout.
The City of Houston Election is officially nonpartisan. “My prayer is for city of Houston voters to go into the voting booth with open minds,” says Aubrey R. Taylor, publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper. “A candidate’s race and political affiliation should not be the key determining factors used to determine Houston’s next mayor,” says Taylor. “That’s why my team and I will be spending the next few weeks trying to educate voters and encourage voters to return back to the polls to vote in the upcoming Runoff Election,” he says.
RACE FOR CITY CONTROLLER
FRAZER VS. BROWN
On Saturday, December 12, 2015, Bill Frazer and Chris Brown will face off against one another to determine who the next City of Houston Controller should be. Bill Frazer heads into the runoff as the presumptive favorite. Frazer earned this designation by finishing first in a field of six candidates. Frazer garnered 64,879 votes (31.35%) of the overall turnout to lead the pack of contenders. Chris Brown earned the right to appear on the Runoff Election ballot by garnering 51,565 votes (24.92%) of the overall turnout.
A NOTE FROM AUBREY R. TAYLOR
“I believe both Bill Frazer and Chris Brown will be seeking our vote, prayers and support on Saturday, December 12, 2015. However, I would like to make note of a big surprise from the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 race for City of Houston Controller. M.J. Khan, a late entry into the field actually performed much better than anyone predicted. Khan garnered 34,681 votes (16.76%) of the overall turnout. Another shocker was how well Jew Don Boney performed. Boney wound up getting 20,095 votes (9.71%) of the vote,” says Taylor. “Carroll G. Robinson (one of the top-tier candidates heading into Election Day) was hurt significantly by having two other African American candidates in the race. In the end, Carroll G. Robinson, Jew Don Boney, and Dwight Jefferson basically cancelled one another out of any chance for either to make the coveted runoff,” explains Taylor.
CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE POSITION #1
KNOX VS. PROVOST
On Saturday, December 12, 2015 Mike Knox and Georgia Provost will face off to decide who should represent the people of Houston as the Houston City Council At-Large Position #1 council member. Mike Knox was the top-vote-getter on Election Day. Knox garnered 47,456 votes (24.75%) of the overall turnout. Georgia Provost earned the right to have her name appear on the Saturday, December 12, 2015 Runoff Election ballot by garnering 28,402 votes (14.81%) of the overall turnout.
A NOTE FROM AUBREY R. TAYLOR
“I believe both Mike Knox and Georgia Provost will be asking for our vote prayers and support in the Saturday, December 12, 2015 runoff election. Mike Knox was dominant on election night. However, Georgia Provost put on a very good showing against this well-funded field of contenders. Keep in mind that Provost finished ahead of Lane Lewis and Tom McCasland. Why is this important? Well, Lane Lewis is chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party and could only finish sixth in the eight candidate field. And Tom McCasland, the candidate who was endorsed by the Houston Chronicle and considered by many to be the front-runner heading into Election Day could only muster a fourth place finish,” explains Taylor.
CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE POSITION #2
ROBINSON VS. DAVIS
On Saturday, December 12, 2015 David W. Robinson and Willie Davis will face off to decide who will represent the people of Houston as the Houston City Council At-Large Position #2 council member. David W. Robinson, the incumbent was the top-vote-getter on Election Day. Robinson garnered 60,363 votes (32.60%) of the overall turnout. Willie R. Davis received 41,793 votes (22.57%) of the overall turnout.
A NOTE FROM AUBREY R. TAYLOR
“The unique thing about Willie R. Davis making the runoff is that he beat out Andrew C. Burks, Jr., former At-Large Position #2 council member, and Eric Dick, a well-known Houston area attorney in the process of doing so,” says Aubrey R. Taylor.
CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE POSITION #4
EDWARDS VS. MORALES
On Saturday, December 12, 2015 Amanda Edwards and Roy Morales will face off to decide who will represent the people of Houston as the Houston City Council At-Large Position #4 council member. Amanda dominated the field of contenders by gaining more than 67,175 votes (34.93%) of the overall turnout. However with six other candidates in the race she did reach the 50% threshold and must face off against Roy Morales in the upcoming runoff election. Morales made the runoff by garnering 32,499 votes (16.90%) of the overall turnout.
A NOTE FROM AUBREY R. TAYLOR
“Roy Morales made the runoff by overtaking Laurie Robinson with a late charge on election night. For most of the night it appeared Amanda Edwards and Laurie Robinson would be headed to a Saturday, December 12, 2015 showdown; but Morales had other thoughts. Robinson eventually finished third in the race,” says Aubrey R. Taylor.
CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE POSITION #5
CHRISTIE VS. MOSES
On Saturday, December 12, 2015 Jack Christie and Sharon Moses will face off to decide who will represent the people of Houston as the Houston City Council Position #5 council member. Jack Christie, the incumbent was the top-vote-getter on election night. Christie garnered 83,535 votes (45.99%) of the overall turnout. Sharon Moses received 44,038 votes (24.25%) of the overall turnout to earn the right to have her name appear on the Saturday, December 12, 2015 runoff ballot.
A NOTE FROM AUBREY R. TAYLOR
“Sharon Moses was considered by many to be long-shot in this race. But to her credit she proved her doubters wrong and even defeated a candidate by the name of Phillipe Nassif, who was endorsed by the Houston Chronicle to earn the right to have her name placed on the Saturday, December 12, 2015 runoff ballot,” says Aubrey R. Taylor.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT F
LE VS. NGUYEN
On Saturday, December 12, 2015 Steve Le and Richard Nguyen will face off to decide who should represent the people of Houston as the Houston City Council District F council member. Steve Le was the top-vote-getter on Election Day as he garnered 4,316 votes (40.38%) of the overall turnout. Richard Nguyen, the incumbent earned the right to have his name appear on the Saturday, December 12, 2015 Runoff Election ballot by holding on to finish second with 3,644 votes (34.09%) of the overall turnout.
A NOTE FROM AUBREY R. TAYLOR
“Barring a major surprise before Saturday, December 12, 2015 Council Member Richard Nguyen may not be able to overtake Le in this race. Especially if he does not develop a strategy to pick up at least a few of the voters who went to the polls to cast their votes for Dr. Kendall Baker, the third place finisher back on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. But being that both Le and Baker stood firmly against the controversial HERO Ordinance, which Richard Nguyen voted for, I don’t see Dr. Kendall Baker, who also happens to be a local pastor, throwing his support behind Council Member Richard Nguyen in this race -- but anything can happen in politics,” explains Taylor.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT H
CISNEROS VS. CISNEROZ
On Saturday, December 12, 2015 Karla Cisneros and Jason Cisneroz will face off to decide who should represent the people of Houston as the Houston City Council District H council member. Karla Cisneros was the top-vote-getter on Election Day as she garnered 4,856 votes (34.99%) of the overall turnout. Jason Cisneroz earned the right to have his name appear on the Saturday, December 12, 2015 Runoff Election ballot by finishing second with 3,234 votes (23.30%) of the overall turnout.
A NOTE FROM AUBREY R. TAYLOR
“I don’t know much about either of the two candidates in the runoff race for Houston City Council District H. However, I will reach out to both of them again between now and Saturday, December 12, 2015,” explains Taylor.
HISD BOARD TRUSTEE FOR DISTRICT II
SKILLERN-JONES VS. WILLIAMS
On Saturday, December 12, 2015 Rhonda Skillern-Jones, the incumbent, will face off against Larry Williams in the race for HISD Board Trustee for District II. Skillern-Jones made the runoff by leading all her challenges by a hefty margin. However, she did not reach the 50% threshold and must face off against Williams. Skillern-Jones gained 7,628 votes (45.99%) of the overall turnout. Larry Williams received 4,114 votes (24.80%) of the overall voter turnout.
A NOTE FROM AUBREY R. TAYLOR
“Rhonda Skillern-Jones is asking for our support, prayers and vote on Saturday, December 12, 2015. According to the Houston Independent School District website, Rhonda-Skillern Jones was elected to the Board of Education in 2011. She was sworn in as trustee in January 2012 and served as board secretary in 2012 and 2013, and first vice president in 2014. She also represents HISD on the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Board of Directors. Skillern-Jones, a wife and mother of five children, is a native Houstonian. She earned both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in clinical sociology from Texas Southern University,” says Aubrey R. Taylor.
HISD BOARD TRUSTEE FOR DISTRICT III
RODRIGUEZ VS. LEAL
On Saturday, December 12, 2015 Manuel Rodriguez, the incumbent, will face off against Jose Leal in the race for HISD Board Trustee for District III. Rodriguez garnered 4,061 votes (46.37%) of the overall voter turnout to make the runoff. Jose Leal garnered 2,622 votes (29.94%) of the overall turnout to finish second and make the runoff.
A NOTE FROM AUBREY R. TAYLOR
“Manuel Rodriguez will head into the runoff as the favorite. However, this race could come down to which candidate will pull in the voters who voted for Ramiro Fonseca the third place finisher back on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. I’m not sure if either Rodriguez or Leal will seek our support at this time," says Aubrey R. Taylor.
RUNOFF ELECTION REMINDER: "All Houston voters were strongly encouraged to view our 2015 "DECEMBER 2015 RUNOFF" supplement to identify the candidates who value and respect our vote before going to the polls to vote in Houston's 2015 City of Houston and HISD runoffs. The special literature is published by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications. Call (832)212-8735 to discuss your inclusion.
VOTER EDUCATION GUIDE: "All Houston voters were strongly encouraged to read this '2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election Voter Education Guide' before going to the polls to vote in Houston's 2015 General Election. On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 Houston Voters rejected Proposition 1 - The Hero Ordinance by a wide-margin. Over 60 percent of Houston voters were against men being allowed to go into women's restrooms, locker rooms, and showers," says Aubrey R. Taylor, publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper.
You can (CLICK HERE) to read the ordinance for yourself. "Voting is a personal decision that every voter should make from an empowered position. The 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election was perhaps one of the most important elections that have taken place in the last 50 years in Houston, Texas. But the fight isn't over. On Saturday, December 12, 2015 we are encouraging all Houston voters to head back to the polls to have their voices heard. The races for City of Houston Mayor; City of Houston Controller, Houston City Council At-Large Position #1; Houston City Council At-Large Position #2; Houston City Council At-Large Position #4; Houston City Council At-Large Position #5; HISD Board Trustee for District II; and HISD Board Trustee for District III must still be decided.
PLEASE STUDY THE CANDIDATES
So to this end, please research and study the candidates and issues before going to the polls to vote on Saturday, December 12, 2015," Aubrey R. Taylor, publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper -- You are welcome to call (832)212-8735 to discuss your inclusion.
DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed by Aubrey R. Taylor, publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper in this "BLOG POST" do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Aubrey R. Taylor Communications; or supporters, sponsors, advertisers, friends, associates, or anyone else associated directly or indirectly to Aubrey R. Taylor Communications.
