Antonio Maldonado (right) is one of the hardest-working political consultants in the game. Pictured above with Kathy Blueford Daniels, HCAD Board Member-Elect, Place 1, Maldonado has proven himself to be worth his weight gold at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center, better known as "WEST GRAY" to politicos running for office in Harris County, Texas.
I’m Aubrey R. Taylor, the Houston Business Connections Newspaper publisher and investigative reporter. I have conducted investigations in Harris County, Texas, since the 1990s and plan to closely monitor the “ABSENTEE BALLOT FLOW” between now and Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the upcoming Presidential Election in Harris County, Texas.
With Kathy Blueford Daniels Absentee from Ballot, Melissa Noriega and Pelumi Adeleke Face a More Difficult Path to Winning
AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©
Of the two Democrats on the ballot in the upcoming Saturday, June 15, 2024 (HCAD), Harris Central Appraisal District runoff elections, Melissa Noriega has better name identification than her running mate, Pelumi Adeleke, in Democratic Party circles.
Remember, the last time Melissa Noriega ran for public office, she ran for the office of State Representative for District 145 against Christina Morales on March 5, 2019, in the Democratic Party Primary “RUNOFF ELECTION” and got trounced. As a reminder, Christina Morales received 1,826 votes, 60.8%. Melissa Noriega received 1,179 votes, for 39.2%, if my memory serves me right.
According to our research, Pelumi Adeleke has never run for public office. Both Democrats, Melissa Noriega and Pelumi Adeleke, came into the (HCAD) Harris Central Appraisal District as the underdogs against their two Republican rivals (Kyle Scott and Ericka McCrutcheon) in the races for HCAD Board of Director, At-Large, Place 2, and Place 3, respectively.
On Saturday, May 4, 2024, Noriega and Adeleke benefited heavily from the State Senate 15, “SPECIAL ELECTION” between Jarvis Johnson and Molly Cook being on the ballot. However, having former HISD Trustee Kathy Blueford-Daniels on the ballot in the (HCAD) Board of Directors, At-Large, Place 1, race also significantly drove out African American voters.
It was telling that Kathy Blueford-Daniels won her race outright without a runoff over Bill R. Frazer, especially because of how she defeated Frazier.
In the “ABSENTEE BALLOT CATEGORY,” Kathy Blueford-Daniels received 8,983 absentee mail ballots. Comparatively speaking, Bill R. Frazer received 4,488.
During the early voting period, Kathy Blueford-Daniels also received more votes than Bill R. Frazer, with voters going into early voting locations to cast their ballots. Blueford-Daniels received 9,396 in-person votes, and Bill R. Frazer received 9,049 votes during the in-person early voting period.
For some reason, Republican voters came out for Bill R. Frazer in more significant numbers on election day, where Frazer received 11,603 in-person votes, and Blueford-Daniels received 9,246. Kathy Blueford-Daniels received 27,661 votes for 50.44%, and Bill R. Frazer received 45.92%, narrowly missing the opportunity to force a runoff.
Had it not been for Kathy Blueford-Daniels jumping out to that humungous lead in the “ABSENTEE MAIL BALLOT CATEGORY,” we would be looking at three runoff elections for (HCAD) Harris Central Appraisal District, At-Large positions.
“THE BIG QUESTION.”
The “BIG QUESTION” on the minds of everyone now is whether Melissa Noriega, who received 4,232 absentee mail ballots back on Saturday, May 4, 2024, can match her BBM totals this time around. Remember, Kyle Scott received 4,258 absentee mail ballots the last time these two faced off in the race for (HCAD) Harris Central Appraisal District, At-Large, Place 2.
As for Pelumi Adeleke, she seemingly came out of where, passing attorney Amy Lacy in the proverbial 11th hour, to force her way into the (HCAD) Harris Central Appraisal District, Board of Directors, At-Large, Place 3, runoff against Ericka McCrutcheon.
Comparatively speaking, Ericka McCrutcheon received 4,476 absentee mail ballots on Saturday, May 4, 2024, and Pelumi Adeleke received 2,757. However, considering that Amy Lacy received 4,355 absentee mail ballots, one could reasonably expect that Adeleke’s absentee mail ballot totals will trend upwards for the runoffs.
“NO BLUEFORD-DANIELS.”
What a lot of folks don’t know is that Kathy Blueford-Daniels is one of my favorite politicians. She’s always been respectful to me in public. Unlike many local politicians, Blueford-Daniels usually goes out of her way to speak to others and greet people (essential or not) with her beautiful trademark smile.
Kathy Blueford-Daniels is a great all-around person who was raised right and takes being a public servant seriously. “Born and raised in Houston’s Historic Fifth Ward and the third of nine siblings: Kathy attended Dogan Elementary, Lamar Fleming, and graduated from the historic Phillis Wheatley High School. Raised with five (5) brothers and three (3) younger sisters, she excelled in the sports of Softball, Cheerleading and Volleyball,” according to her website.
The website further states, “Upon graduation from Wheatley High School, she pursued nursing at Houston Community College and studied accounting/bookkeeping at Massey Business College. While attending Nursing School, Kathy began employment with the U. S. Postal Service. During her 28-year career with the Postal Service, she was quickly promoted to Supervisor and served in numerous Managerial Positions before retiring in 2008. A Greater True Vine Baptist Church member under the leadership of Rev. Matthew R. Alix, Sr., Kathy’s Stewardship included the GTV Choir, Education Council, and Former Pastor’s Aid Committee President.”
Many folks don’t understand that Kathy Blueford-Daniels does not run for public office for the sake of running. Blueford-Daniels is a public servant who cares about our future generations.
Remember, she established a support group called “BLAC MoM” after the senseless murder of her 20-year-old son, Patrick Charles Murphy, killed back in 2006, based on mistaken identity.
We must remember that our public servants are real human beings with real-life experiences, no matter what we think about their political party affiliation or ideologies.
Take Kathy Blueford Daniels, for instance. After the senseless murder of her son, the loving mother turned her life experience into a personal journey to address the needs of the community by becoming a change agent.
“Kathy’s journey to address the community’s needs began when this life-changing event propelled her to commit to the needs of our youth regarding the importance of education and the consequences of negative choices,” explained her website.
Her website further explains that she organized “Young Soldiers Marching for Christ,” which involved youth and young adult drill teams marching in the Scenic Woods neighborhood. She intended to ostracize violence while demonstrating discipline, group dynamics, and positive engagement, which helped organize “Stop the Violence and No More Bloodshed Campaigns,” targeting youth and young adults through her hard work.
For those who don’t know, Kathy Blueford-Daniels has been much more than a politician. She has been engaged in many non-violent rallies while striving to make a difference by serving on Harris County Grand Juries, which many citizens shy away from.
“CLOSING THOUGHTS.”
No matter who wins the upcoming Saturday, June 15, 2024, (HCAD), Harris Central Appraisal District, Board of Director “RUNOFF RACES” for Places 2 and 3, let’s recognize the fact that it takes courage to run for public office during these divisive political times. And beyond that, let’s resign ourselves to the fact that Melissa Noriega (Democrat), Kyle Scott (Republican), Pelumi Adeleke (Democrat), and Ericka McCrutcheon (Republican) are human beings with real-life experiences who mustered the courage to run for public office, with the intent to represent all of us for this nonpartisan position.
In closing, on Saturday, June 15, 2024, there will also be “JUNETEENTH,” celebrated worldwide. Let’s make it our business to put ‘petty politics’ aside and “JUBILANTLY” select the candidates we believe best represent our values and interests on the Harris Central Appraisal Board.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONSEMAIL: aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
DIRECT CONTACT:
(281)788-3033
Kyle Scott (Republican), Melissa Noriega (Democrat), Ericka McCutcheon (Republican), and Pelumi Adeleke (Democrat) are the candidates running for HCAD, Director, At-Large, Place 2, and HCAD, Director, At-Large, Place 3, on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Harris County, Texas.
The Harris County Democratic Party has endorsed Melissa Noriega in the race for (HCAD), Director, At-Large, Place 2. Melissa Noriega received 13,647 votes, for 24.97%, to finish as the runner-up in the general election and force a runoff in this race.
The Harris County Republican Party has endorsed Kyle Scott in the race for (HCAD), Director, At-Large, Place 2. In case you don’t remember, Kyle Scott received 25,416 votes, or 46.50%, to emerge from the general election in the first place.
The Harris County Democratic Party has endorsed Pelumi Adeleke in the race for (HCAD), Director, At-Large, Place 3. Pelumi Adeleke received 11,553 votes, for 21.30%, to finish as the runner-up in the general election and force a runoff in this race.
In the race for (HCAD), Director, At-Large, Place 3, the Harris County Republican Party has endorsed Ericka McCutcheon. In case you don’t remember, Ericka McCrutcheon received 22,365 votes, for 41.24%, to emerge from the general election in first place in this race.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONSEMAIL: aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
DIRECT CONTACT:
(281)788-3033
