Aubrey R. Taylor Communications has confirmed that everyone pictured in this group photo is running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas seat on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Any additional candidates planning to run for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas must sign up no later than Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Two independent candidates will run for the 18th Congressional District of Texas seat as of today. Two Republican candidates plan to run for the 18th Congressional District of Texas seat as of today. Ten Democrats plan to run for the seat as of today. Early voting is scheduled to begin for the 18th Congressional District Special Election on October 20, 2025.
Derrell Sherrod Turner is an INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Khristopher W. Beal is an INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Carmen Maria Montiel is a REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Cyrus Sajna is a REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Amanda Edwards is a DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Christian DaShaun Menefee is a poor excuse for a Democrat. Menefee should be rejected by "ALL DEMOCRATS" at the ballot box on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, in the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas race. Menefee is selfish, egotistical, arrogant, and worships Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis as if the "PUPPET MASTER" is a deity, mini-god, or supreme being worthy of exaltation. Commissioner Rodney Ellis has become an idol to Christian Menefee. Therefore, Christian DaShaun Menefee appears to be brainwashed as he jumps, skips, hops, shuffles his feet, bends over, and does the little "WATUSI DANCE" whenever Commissioner Ellis pulls his strings or plays a familiar beat on his drum.
Dr. James Joseph is a DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Earnest Clayton is a DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Isaiah Martin is a DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Kivan Polimis is a DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee, or any other member of Commissioner Ellis's "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Larry McKinzie is a DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Robert Slater is a DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Selena Samuel is a DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
Steven Filler is a DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
TJ Baker is a DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE running for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as of today. All open-minded Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers are strongly encouraged to get acquainted with all of the candidates running and choose someone other than Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "PUPPET," Christian DaShuan Menefee or any other member of Commissioner Ellis "CULT-LIKE" political regime, which has ruled the 18th Congressional District for too long already.
According to a poll conducted by the Associated Press, AP Vote Cast, which surveyed 120,000 voters nationwide, 16% of Black voters picked TRUMP, the Republican nominee, over Kamala Harris, the Democrat nominee in the 2024 race for President of the United States. This fact represented the largest share of votes cast for a Republican president by Black voters since Gerald Ford in 1976. When it came down to Black men like Jonathan McCullough, the founder of Urban Conservatives of America, he and other African American males comprised a "STEALTH GROUP" of African American males who cast their votes for TRUMP in groves. Data shows that 25% of Black males formed a unique alliance with MAGA (Make America Great Again) voters to drive TRUMP back into the White House during the 2024 Presidential Election in a landslide victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in states across America. It remains to be seen if other GOP CANDIDATES like Carmen Maria Montiel, who plans to enter the race to pursue the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas seat, will be able to ally MAGA (Make America Great Again) and Black voters to achieve victories in future elections.
"THE DEMOCRAPHICS."
It is vitally crucial that Texans understand that the 18th Congressional District of Texas has nearly 800,000 residents and over 417,430 registered voters living within its boundaries.
Based on “OFFICIAL ETHNICITY DATA” in the Cook Partisan Voting Index, the 18th Congressional District of Texas is 43.4% Hispanic, 32.2% Black, 16.7% White, 4.9% Asian, and 2.2% Two or more races—which means that we could see something very special unfold in the upcoming “SPECIAL EDITION” for the coveted 18th Congressional District of Texas.
"PARTY AFFILIATIONS."
As of today (Monday, April 7, 2025), there’s only (1) one Republican, (8) eight Democrats, and (2) two Independent candidates who have filed their “STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY” with the Federal Election Commission, thus far. When Carmen Maria Montiel enters the race for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas, she will become an instant "FRONT-RUNNER" in a race slated to be jam-packed with well-known Democratic contenders.
"OFFICIAL CANDIDATES."
Amanda Edwards (Democrat), Cyrus Sanjna (Republican), Isaiah Martin (Democrat), Khristopher W. Beal (Independent), Robert Slater (Democrat), Derrell Sherrod Turner (Independent), Christian D. Menefee (Democrat), James Joseph (Democrat), Kivan Polimis (Democrat), Earnest Clayton (Democrat), and Selena Samuel plan to run as Democrats.
"POTENTIAL CONTENDERS."
The names of several bonified potential contenders have been circulating through back channels in Harris County, Texas, as potential entrants into the “SPECIAL ELECTION” race for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas, which is continuing to grow.
Former State Rep. Jarvis Johnson, State Rep. Jolanda Jones, State Rep. Christina Morales, Councilwoman Letitia Plummer, State Rep. Ron Reynolds, NAACP President Bishop James Dixon, Community Activist Travis McGee, former HISD School Teacher Larry McKinzie, Businessman Julian Antonio Martinez, former State Rep. Candidate Angeanette “Angie” Thibodeaux, Former State Rep. Shawn Thierry, TSU Board Regent Dr. Richard Johnson, Community Activist Deric Muhammad, Former 18th Congressional District Candidate Carmen Maria Montiel, Former 18th Congressional District Candidate Wendell Champion, are all bonified contenders, should they enter the race.
"THE U.S. CONGRESS."
Today (Thursday, April 10, 2025), 220 Republican members are serving in the 119th United States Congress, 213 Democratic members are serving, and only two vacancies—or open seats—exist.
Both open Congressional seats in the 119th United States Congress became open because the Democratic congressional members died while in office. For the record, the late Congressman Sylvester Turner (D-TX) died on March 5, 2025, and the late Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) passed away on March 13, 2025, a little over a week after Turner.
On September 23, 2025, the “SPECIAL ELECTION” for the 7th Congressional District seat in Arizona will take place, and a candidate will get elected to serve out the remainder of the late Congressman Raul Grijalva’s unexpired term.
In the 18th Congressional District of Texas, local and national Democrats tried to use pressure “MAFIA-STYLED TACTICS” to force Governor Abbott to set a date for the “SPECIAL ELECTION” to take place in June 2025, but their efforts failed.
Carmen Maria Montiel has just as good a chance to win the upcoming "SPECIAL ELECTION" for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas as any other candidate running for the seat. Based on “OFFICIAL ETHNICITY DATA” in the Cook Partisan Voting Index, the 18th Congressional District of Texas is 43.4% Hispanic, 32.2% Black, 16.7% White, 4.9% Asian, and 2.2% Two or more races—which means that we could see something very special unfold in the upcoming “SPECIAL EDITION” for the coveted 18th Congressional District of Texas. Suppose Carmen Maria Montiel can build a similar coalition in the 18th Congressional District that President Donald J. Trump built, allying MAGA (Make America Great Again) with African American voters. In that case, she will definitely make the "RUNOFF ELECTION," and have a good shot at flipping the coveted 18th Congressional District of Texas from "BLUE" to "RED" if she receives the financial support to run her own election integrity operation to make sure that members of Commissioner Rodney Ellis's "CULT-LIKE" political regime don't try to gain an unfair advantage.
Larry, Curly, and Moe were hilarious back in the day. However, the "THREE STOOGES" were not as funny as Rodney (Larry), Christian (Curley), and Jeremy (Moe), who are trying to play the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas for fools with that $3.4 million donation dealt they're conspiring together to pull off between the Julia C. Hester House, and Harris County Commisioner Rodney Ellis.
Rodney (Larry), Christian (Curly), and Jeremy (Moe) are the "THREE BLACK STOOGES" who believe that they can play the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas for fools. Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, and former Judge Jeremy Brown are all in bed together. Commissioner Rodney Ellis was one of the biggest donors to County Attorney Christian Menefee's 2024 re-election campaign. And Jeremy Brown, who currently serves as the board chairman for the Julia C. Hester House, served as Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's political consultant when Ellis pursued the (PRECICNCT ONE) seat after the untimely death of the late Commissioner El Frankco Lee back on January 3, 2016, in Houston, Texas.
On January 11, 2024, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis donated $5,000.00 to Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee for his re-election bid, heading into his March 5, 2024, Democratic Party Primary showdown with Umeka Lewis, a local attorney. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee is in the middle of the $3.4 million deal to donate the Julia C. Hester House to Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's Precinct One.
On September 21, 2023, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis donated $5,000.00 to Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee for his re-election bid, a few months before the filing deadline, to appear on the March 2024 Democratic Party Primary ballot. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee is in the middle of the $3.4 million deal to donate the Julia C. Hester House to Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's Precinct One.
On June 23, 2016, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis gave $2,500.00 to Jeremy Brown and categorized it as a “CONSULTING EXPENSE” when Ellis was seeking to win the “PRECINCT ONE” Commissioner’s seat after the untimely death of Commissioner El Franco Lee. Jeremy Brown is serving as the board chairman for the Julia C. Hester House, pushing to approve the $3.4 million donation of Julia C. Hester House to Commissioner Rodney Ellis's Precinct One.
On May 23, 2016, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis gave $3,000.00 to Jeremy Brown and categorized it as a “CONSULTING EXPENSE” when Ellis was seeking to win the “PRECINCT ONE” Commissioner’s seat after the untimely death of Commissioner El Franco Lee. Jeremy Brown is serving as the board chairman for the Julia C. Hester House, pushing to approve the $3.4 million donation of Julia C. Hester House to Commissioner Rodney Ellis's Precinct One.
On April 30, 2016, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis gave $2,830.00 to Jeremy Brown and categorized it as a “CONSULTING EXPENSE” when Ellis was seeking to win the “PRECINCT ONE” Commissioner’s seat after the untimely death of Commissioner El Franco Lee. Jeremy Brown is serving as the board chairman for the Julia C. Hester House, pushing to approve the $3.4 million donation of Julia C. Hester House to Commissioner Rodney Ellis's Precinct One.
On March 31, 2016, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis gave $2,826.52 to Jeremy Brown and categorized it as a “CONSULTING EXPENSE” when Ellis was seeking to win the “PRECINCT ONE” Commissioner’s seat after the untimely death of Commissioner El Franco Lee. Jeremy Brown is serving as the board chairman for the Julia C. Hester House, pushing to approve the $3.4 million donation of Julia C. Hester House to Commissioner Rodney Ellis's Precinct One.
On February 29, 2016, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis gave $2,826.52 to Jeremy Brown and categorized it as a “CONSULTING EXPENSE” when Ellis was seeking to win the “PRECINCT ONE” Commissioner’s seat after the untimely death of Commissioner El Franco Lee. Jeremy Brown is serving as the board chairman for the Julia C. Hester House, pushing to approve the $3.4 million donation of Julia C. Hester House to Commissioner Rodney Ellis's Precinct One.
I’m Aubrey R. Taylor, the publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper, one of Texas's most formidable politically-focused publications. With the help of my chief investigator, Charles Marler, a former FBI Investigative Specialist, my investigative team is second to none. NOTE: My thoughts, opinions, and reports are published under my First Amendment-protected rights afforded to me under the “FREEDOM OF SPEECH” and “FREEDOM OF THE PRESS” clauses in the U.S. Constitution.
Research Reveals Ellis, Menefee, and Brown Could Be In Bed Together; Hester House Deal Should Get Paused
AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©
Do you remember the THREE STOOGES and how Larry, Moe, and Curley pulled pranks on each other in the comedy that aired from the 1920s through the 1970s? Well, I’ve found the “THREE BLACK STOOGES” right here in Harris County, Texas, but the prank they’re trying to pull isn’t funny in the least bit.
The “THREE BLACK STOOGES” I’m referring to are Rodney (Larry), Christian (Curly), and Jeremy (Moe), who are out of control. Consider this my warning to the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas to watch these three closely as their plan to take over the Julia C. Hester House unfolds.
BEST FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY…
If Governor Abbott had set the “SPECIAL ELECTION” for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas to appear on the Saturday, May 3, 2025, “UNIFORM ELECTION” ballot, the race would have more likely than not been won by County Attorney Christian Menefee, with Commissioner Rodney Ellis pulling strings, and calling in markers for him.
Listen. The move by Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, to allow the race for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas to be held until Tuesday, November 4, 2025, is a serious “CHECKMATE” move by a thinking man.
After Gov. Abbott’s announcement, bonified candidates will now have time to emerge and take on Commissioner Rodney Ellis’s “CULT-LIKE” regime of political bandits.
If you don’t know, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis’s “CULT-LIKE” political regime had Christian Menefee file his “STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY” before the dirt had settled on the late Congressman Sylvester Turner’s grave because Menefee is one of the weakest Democratic countywide officeholders in Harris County, Texas.
Menefee is so weak that he barely beat his Republican female opponent (Jacqueline Lucci Smith) for county attorney in the 2024 presidential election. His Republican female opponent hammered him during the “EARLY VOTING” period, which began on Monday, October 21, 2024, and ended on Friday, November 1, 2024 – not a joke!
Jacqueline Lucci Smith received 562,903 votes during early voting, and Menefee only received 552,835. However, by the skin of his “CHINNY CHIN CHIN,” Christian Menefee managed to win his countywide bid for re-election, but not by much.
Suppose Christian Menefee could barely beat a Republican. In that case, there is no way that he’s going to emerge from the upcoming Tuesday, November 4, 2025, “SPECIAL ELECTION” against the “DEMOCRATIC DAWGS,” expected to enter the race between today and Wednesday, September 3, 2025, which is the filing deadline.
In my opinion, Menefee’s campaign is already floundering, sputtering, and out of gas after he proved that he was a lowdown, dirty snake in the grass after racing to his computer to file his “STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY” before the dirt had settled over the grave of the late Congressman Sylvester Turner, who he claimed was a dear friend.
Yeah, right!
Commissioner Rodney Ellis and members of his “CULT-LIKE” political regime are playing a game called “CHECKERS,” where you don’t have to think two or three moves ahead.
Ellis and his band of “PUPPETS” don’t even realize that the game “THE GOP” is playing requires thought, creativity, ingenuity, political strategy, and a sound mind. Running two dying “PUPPETS” for a seat as crucial as the 18th Congressional District of Texas was ignorant, asinine, and stupid on the part of Commissioner Ellis and his worshipers.
It’s dumbfounding that other local elected officials in Harris County, Texas, don’t even realize Commissioner Rodney Ellis is playing them for fools. Ellis has carefully positioned his most loyal “PUPPETS” in authoritative positions in local city and county government, but he does not care about anyone else.
These loyalists worship Commissioner Rodney Ellis as if he’s a deity, mini-god, or supreme being worthy of reverence, honor, and praise – but he’s not.
In essence, some of these “ELECTED OFFICIALS” claim to be Believers. Still, they are treating the “PUPPET MASTER” Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis as if he’s their idol – which is an ungodly act that does not please GOD in way, shape, or form.
I’m not a preacher, saint, or prophet by any stretch of the imagination, but Exodus 20:3 states, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” meaning God is not pleased.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis has truly become the “GRAND WIZARD” of a small group of ungodly political tyrants who only care about themselves, their families, and nobody else.
If Ellis cared about Democrats, why didn’t he use some of his $6,414,367.00 to help the “DEMOCRATIC JUDGES” during the 2022 Midterm Election and 2024 Presidential Election when they were getting hammered by those “ATTACK ADS” that they were getting bombarded with day and night? Huh?
Why did Commissioner Rodney Ellis only donate around $6,500.00 to the Harris County Democratic Party when he had over $6 million in the bank? And why are local “DEMOCRATIC JUDGES” badgered and harassed to donate their hard-earned money to the HCDP, but Commissioner Ellis is allowed to hide behind the “DEMOCRATIC SHIELD” and use his campaign donations to play the Stock Market? Why?
IT’S TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE…
The Black community needs to wake up and realize that Commissioner Rodney Ellis and County Attorney Christian Menefee cannot be trusted to do right by the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas – that’s a fact.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis, County Attorney Christian Menefee, and former Judge Jeremy Brown appear to be running a scheme on the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas right under the noses of the “BOARD OF DIRECTORS” for the Julia C. Hester House.
Jeremy Brown, a former political consultant for Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, chairs the current Julia C. Hester House board. For the record, before becoming the judge for Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Jeremy Brown served as a consultant for Commissioner Rodney Ellis after the untimely death of Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee, who died of a myocardial infarction on January 3, 2016.
If you remember, at the time Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee died, at 66 years old, he was seemingly robust, healthy, and an avid swimmer. However, on the morning after Sylvester Turner was installed as the new mayor of Houston, Texas, our beloved Harris County Commissioner, El Franco Lee, suddenly dropped dead and could not be revived.
The sudden death of Commissioner El Franco Lee provided Commissioner Rodney Ellis with an opening to flee his Senate District 13 seat and the mounting pressure he was under after Senate Republicans had discovered that $500,000.00 was missing from his campaign bank account and were asking Ellis serious questions about the campaign money that had vanished from his campaign bank account.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis ultimately came clean and explained to his Republican Senate colleagues that he had lost the $500,000.00 invested in the Stock Market but had recouped the money he lost through other investments.
Remember, it is legal to invest campaign money in low-risk investments, like security bonds, but it’s against the law to take campaign donations and gamble them in the New York Stock Exchange in a reckless fashion, as Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis continues to do today.
TAKING OVER THE HESTER HOUSE TAKEOVER…
It’s very strange how Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis has managed to stack the board of the Julia C. Hester House with his “PUPPETS” like Board Chairman Jeremy Brown and other members of his “CULT-LIKE” political regime, and nobody has said a word.
The Julia C. Hester House board is comprised of Jermy Brown, Johnnie Means, Jermaine Netherly, Lester Byrd, Jr., State Rep. Harold Dutton, Jr., Dr. DoVeanna S. Fulton, Dr. Valerie Jackson, and Jamaal R. Smith.
Did I mention that the board chairman is Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis’s former political consultant? I’m just ensuring you didn’t miss that critical detail.
Why do you think the December 11, 2024, meeting of the Hester Houston board, headed by Harris County Commissioner’s former political consultant (Jeremy Brown) to donate the $3.4 million worth of property, sitting on 4.7 acres of land, wasn’t highly publicized?
Why do you think the people of the 18th Congressional District were kept in the dark? Why weren’t they notified of the meeting so the board could vote on the Julia C. Hester House to get turned over to Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis’s control?
According to a statement made by Jeremy Brown, the chairman of the board, and Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a former political consultant, “Precinct 1 has provided nearly all of Hester House’s annual funding, upwards of 90 percent.”
In his pitch to allow Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis to seize complete control of the Julia C. Hester House, Jeremy Brown acknowledged that the historic nonprofit had experienced difficulties raising money. Brown couched this as part of his pitch to the other board members as his reasoning for turning over the Julia C. Hester House to Commissioner Ellis.
I’m unsure where the deal is at this time. However, from what I understand, several community meetings were supposed to occur before the astonishing $3.4 million donation was official.
According to a published statement, Jeremy Brown claimed that transparency would be crucial as we advance – but is it?
“We want to make this transparent,” explained Jeremy Brown, the board chairman for the Julia C. Hester House. However, I question whether he’s been transparent with the other board members.
Do the other board members know he previously served as Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis’s political consultant? Has he explained to his fellow board members that Commissioner Rodney Ellis is/was a Union Pacific Railroad shareholder?
“The board wants to be transparent with the community, as I know the precinct wants to be transparent in this,” said Jeremy Brown.
If Jeremy Brown is all about transparency, has he revealed to the community that he’s a member of Commissioner Rodney Ellis’s “CULT-LIKE” political regime?
The people of the 18th Congressional District need to know that Jeremy Brown, the chairman of the board of the Julia C. Hester House, has been in bed with Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee for years.
If you remember, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis recruited Christian Menefee, one of his loyal “PUPPETS,” to challenge County Attorney Vince Ryan, a white male, back during the 2020 Democratic Party Primary.
On January 11, 2024, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis donated $5,000.00 to Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee for his re-election bid, heading into his March 5, 2024, Democratic Party Primary showdown with Umeka Lewis, a local attorney.
On September 21, 2023, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis donated $5,000.00 to Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee for his re-election bid, a few months before the filing deadline, to appear on the March 2024 Democratic Party Primary ballot.
On June 23, 2016, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis gave $2,500.00 to Jeremy Brown and categorized it as a “CONSULTING EXPENSE” when Ellis was seeking to win the “PRECINCT ONE” Commissioner’s seat after the untimely death of Commissioner El Franco Lee.
On May 23, 2016, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis gave $3,000.00 to Jeremy Brown and categorized it as a “CONSULTING EXPENSE” when Ellis was seeking to win the “PRECINCT ONE” Commissioner’s seat after the untimely death of Commissioner El Franco Lee.
On April 30, 2016, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis gave $2,830.00 to Jeremy Brown and categorized it as a “CONSULTING EXPENSE” when Ellis was seeking to win the “PRECINCT ONE” Commissioner’s seat after the untimely death of Commissioner El Franco Lee.
On March 31, 2016, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis gave $2,826.52 to Jeremy Brown and categorized it as a “CONSULTING EXPENSE” when Ellis was seeking to win the “PRECINCT ONE” Commissioner’s seat after the untimely death of Commissioner El Franco Lee.
On February 29, 2016, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis gave $2,826.52 to Jeremy Brown and categorized it as a “CONSULTING EXPENSE” when Ellis was seeking to win the “PRECINCT ONE” Commissioner’s seat after the untimely death of Commissioner El Franco Lee.
THE ELLIS TAKEOVER MUST GET PAUSED…
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis should not be allowed to take over the Julia C. Hester House until all other options are explored.
From what I understand, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis told the “COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS” who were in attendance at the December 19, 2024, community meeting (PRECINCT ONE) that they could not continue with their current working agreement because of legal concerns brought forward by one of his “PUPPETS” who serves as the Harris County Attorney, and you know who I’m talking about—County Attorney Christian Menefee.
And not with the recently released environmental concerns, after it was discovered that the Julia C. Hester House is sitting on contaminated land; who knows what will happen, but this $3.4 million plot of land should not be handed over to Commissioner Rodney Ellis’s Office.
Speaking of the surfaced environmental concerns, State Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, recently filed a bill to turn the Julia C. Hester House into a state park.
It is also fair to note that State Rep. Harold Dutton voted against the ongoing donation process when the opportunity was put forth by Commissioner Rodney Ellis back in December 2024.
From what I gather, the “DONATION PROCESS” will take several months to complete, which means anything can happen. However, it is of utter importance that the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas are fully involved in what happens between now and the finalization of any plan.
THIS RACE IS UP FOR GRABS…
The data does not lie. The 18th Congressional District of Texas does not belong to Black people anymore. The 18th is a majority Hispanic district poised and ready for change.
Based on “OFFICIAL ETHNICITY DATA” in the Cook Partisan Voting Index, the 18th Congressional District of Texas is 43.4% Hispanic, 32.2% Black, 16.7% White, 4.9% Asian, and 2.2% Two or more races—which means that we could see something very special unfold in the upcoming “SPECIAL EDITION” for the coveted 18th Congressional District of Texas.
I expect at least 20 to 25 duly qualified candidates to enter the race for the vacant 18th Congressional District of Texas. If this is the case, at least (20) of the candidates will likely be Democrats, which means a Republican “STEALTH CANDIDATE” has a good shot to split the large contingent of Democrats and making their way into the December 2025 runoff election. If that happens, the 18th Congressional District of Texas will be one step away from getting flipped from “BLUE” to “RED” because African American voters don’t typically turn back out to vote in significant numbers in December runoffs.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
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